★★★

“each actor was incredibly committed and the chemistry between them was fantastic”

Jez Butterworth’s The River returns to London at the Greenwich Theatre. A play about a man who takes his girlfriends to a lovely country cabin by a river. Yet he is seemingly haunted by … something?

The show begins with a scene featuring The Man (Paul McGann) and The Woman (Amanda Ryan). They share romantic exchanges before he convinces her to go out fishing with her. After which The Man returns with The Other Woman (Kerri McLean), and their relationship and conversations appear no different. This partner swapping occurs throughout the play, suggesting that The Other Woman is one of potentially many previous partners The Man has taken to the lodge.

It has to be said that the cast, under the strong direction of James Haddrell, were brilliant. I was consistently engrossed in their characters as each actor was incredibly committed and the chemistry between them was fantastic. I could not, however, tell you what the moral or meaning of this story is though – which left me unsatisfied. Throughout the whole show, various mirroring scenes between The Man and the two women occur. In all of them I felt like I was just waiting for them to get to the point. As if we were searching through The Man’s psyche (of which the women are just tools to help do so) via the medium of his dating life, but never actually getting anywhere. He never opens up to his partners and never tells them the truth. He’s searching for something in these women, but we don’t know what. Perhaps that is the point that I am just missing. Maybe the point is he doesn’t know what he’s looking for and he is unsatisfied. That is why we don’t get answers.

McGann’s naturalistic performance of the man is subtle yet nuanced. He wonderfully shifts from loving to anxious to investigative in a matter of moments, and he was key in holding my attention throughout the show. The atmosphere of the theatre was also incredibly accurate. Julian Starr’s sound design is lovely in the way that the subtle noises of the natural world are played constantly – from the occasional cricket to the melody of the river moving. Emily Bestow has designed an incredibly detailed set that fits with the naturalistic style: a fishing cabin (where at one stage, a fish gets gutted) full to the brim of life and the world of The Man.

The best part of The River is the incredibly strong and dedicated performances throughout. It’s unfortunate that they are let down by what I would describe as a repetitive and unsubstantial plot line.

23.5 HOURS at Park Theatre

★★★

“Crim’s script is compelling”

23.5 Hours markets itself as a ‘drama about the price of staying together when everything falls apart’. Set in a generic town in North America, 23.5 Hours is an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct and statutory rape, namely between Tom Hodges (David Sturzaker)– a beloved high school teacher – and his 15-year-old female student. But director, Katharine Farmer – with Carey Crim’s script – skips the tantalising details of the scandal, the trial, and Tom’s two-year prison sentence. Instead, we really begin with Leigh (Lisa Dwan) – Tom’s wife – as she navigates life with Tom after his release, having become a social pariah herself, whilst also trying to protect her teenage son, Nicholas (Jem Matthews).

Any show that welcomes audiences in with the music of Nick Cave practically guarantees a philosophical workout, and 23.5 Hours delivers. It’s a deft investigation into trust and love set against the backdrop of unending online vitriol and constant scrutiny.

But the play opens shakily: Leigh and Tom return with best friends and couple, Jayne (an excellent Allyson Ava-Brown) and Bruce (Jonathan Nyati). They’re jovially swigging wine, teasing and silly, having returned from watching Tom’s indulgent two hour and forty eight minute high school production of Romeo and Juliet. Such joviality dichotomises the emotional apocalypse that lies in wait, but it’s a messy joviality, somewhat saccharine, not helped by the mess of American accents, which range from passable to not passable.

Once the drama kicks off however, its non-stop turbulence is endlessly engaging. Crim’s script is compelling, situating itself within the fallout of the Me Too movement, but hyperaware of this. In 23.5 Hours, nobody has moral superiority; everyone is self-righteous and reprehensible, yet never villainous. It delicately straddles the tightrope of judgement: as soon as you think you’ve digested the situation, you’ll be ushered elsewhere. And at some point in the show, you will sympathise with every character. Dealing with material this fraught, that is a real achievement. The show scrutinises the grey bits in-between the ethical absolutes that ordinarily dominate: it is beautifully nuanced, and occasionally very funny.

The stage design (Carla Goodman) complements the piece and Leigh’s psyche excellently. All the action takes place in Leigh’s house, to great effect. This static quality reflects her internal implacability: her denial that she could be in any way shaken in her love for Tom by mistrust, despite growing evidence against him. But as Leigh’s trust and self-belief fragments, so too does her house. Nick Cave also pops up again in the room décor, which I appreciated.

Another shoutout goes to wine, which trails behind almost every character: a skilfully subtle observation of multi-generational addiction and hypocrisy.

The show is perhaps a little too shouty: it would’ve benefitted from fewer screaming matches – which would also have shaved a necessary half hour off. It’s difficult to sustain such high stakes, but the cast are all strong, and Dwan carries its weightiness with aplomb.

One enduring ontological knot, however, is the plausibility of the enduring love between Tom and Leigh. Tom’s character has few redeeming features – despite his obvious intelligence – and it is hard to understand his appeal, or Leigh’s determination to stick by him (certain plot points complicate and elucidate this, but it does remain a concern). Fewer emotional climaxes would’ve made room for threat and tension, allowing the insidious seeds of doubt to fester more.

23.5 Hours is not perfect, but it’s truly a gripping show, which cannot but hook you in. And the cliffhanger will give you plenty to talk about on the tube home.

Tag Archives: Julian Starr

THE RIVER

★★★

Greenwich Theatre

THE RIVER at the Greenwich Theatre

★★★

“each actor was incredibly committed and the chemistry between them was fantastic”

THE RIVER at the Greenwich Theatre

Reviewed on 3rd October 2024

by David Robinson

Photography by Danny With A Camera

Previously reviewed at this venue:

VINCENT RIVER | ★★★ | June 2023

AN INTERVENTION | ★★★½ | July 2022

BAD DAYS AND ODD NIGHTS | ★★★★★ | June 2021

THE RIVER

THE RIVER

Click here to see our Recommended Shows page

23.5 HOURS

★★★

Park Theatre

23.5 HOURS at Park Theatre

★★★

“Crim’s script is compelling”