LOST WATCHES
Park Theatre
★★★
“a show that draws you in”
Loss, sculptures and hallucinations bring us into the world of Lorenzo Allchurch’s new play. Here, grief and comedy go hand in hand and you never know how destructive things can get till it’s too late.
After his mother’s death, Allen struggles to cope. He’s not really on speaking terms with his father or brother, so the days slip away while he remains closed off in a family home he can’t afford and surrounded by his mother’s work (i.e. sculptures). And there’s that voice he keeps hearing, a voice talking to him. It’s coming from William S. Burroughs; his sculpture, to be more accurate. Allen’s isolation gets disrupted and peculiar things start to happen, till a fire breaks out and Allen needs to decide once and for all whether he’s going to face his grief and or let it consume him.
The performances given by all three members of the ensemble were fantastic. Lorenzo Allchurch himself plays the role of Allen and manages to highlight the intriguing nuances of the character, with some hilarious comedic timing when interacting with police constable Dread, played by Leah Aspden. Aspden shines during the interrogation scene and balances the seriousness and wittiness of their character phenomenally. Gabriella Moran takes on the roles of Allen’s family, which are the father, brother and dead mother. It’d be nice to see some more variety between the characters, even if they don’t appear on stage for too long. If it wasn’t for the different costumes, it’d be challenging to tell the characters apart, though there is some lovely chemistry between the dead mother and Allen.
Jason Isaacs surprises us by giving his voice to the bust of William Burroughs, the main hallucination, or guardian angel, talking to Allen. A captivating audio appearance with a voice that is intriguing, hilarious and perfectly fit to speak Allen’s thoughts, even the most intrusive ones.
There is real potential in this play. Some deep exploration of grief, how it affects mental health and distorts how we perceive reality. But Lost Watches can’t decide what it wants to say. Some entertaining jokes are made, then suddenly we have the spirit of Allen’s mother visiting him and dancing with the floating head of William Burroughs. Its subject matter gets sidelined by the comedy and it’s never clear whether what we see is a coping mechanism, a narrative device or straight up hallucinations. Alex Helfrecht’s direction doesn’t help to clarify that and doesn’t really help with the pacing of the show. When the epilogue comes on, it feels abrupt like something is missing; maybe an interval and another twenty to thirty minutes to help us delve deeper into the characters and the plot.
Rob Davis, as the production designer and art director, delivers a set that is simple, yet very atmospheric. There are sculptures covered with sheets, with William Burroughs’ bust in the centre. Also, with a projector’s assistance, we see a window to the outside world, making the small stage feel less claustrophobic and the time passing clearer.
Lost Watches is a show that draws you in. It’s entertaining, but lacks the depth that is required for themes like grief and self-destruction, resulting in an evening that leaves you wondering ‘is that all there is to it?’
LOST WATCHES
Park Theatre
Reviewed on 1st August 2025
by Stephanie Christodoulidou
Photography by Mark Senior
Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:
THAT BASTARD, PUCCINI! | ★★★★★ | July 2025
OUR COSMIC DUST | ★★★ | June 2025
OUTPATIENT | ★★★★ | May 2025
CONVERSATIONS AFTER SEX | ★★★ | May 2025
FAREWELL MR HAFFMANN | ★★★★ | March 2025
ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE YOUNG | ★★★ | March 2025
ANTIGONE | ★★★★★ | February 2025
CYRANO | ★★★ | December 2024
BETTE & JOAN | ★★★★ | December 2024
GOING FOR GOLD | ★★★★ | November 2024
