An Hour and a Half Late – Richmond Theatre, London

Writers: Gérald Sibleyras and Jean Dell

Director and Adaptor: Belinda Lang

An Hour and a Half Late is an ambitious attempt to explore the festering issues of relationships, life, death, and purpose with two characters and only 90 minutes on the clock. The play endeavours to balance the funny and the existential, but falls a bit short of the mark on both.

An Hour and a Half Late dives into the marriage of Peter and Laura, who are expected at a dinner party to secure a deal with Peter’s business partner. However, when Laura decides she doesn’t want to go, it sparks an argument that quickly escalates into an appraisal of their domestic life concerning their children, jobs, and potential affairs. All the while, Peter is still pushing to get himself and Laura to their evening engagement.

The play starts slowly, taking some time to find its feet, and struggles to hook the audience into the action. The show is a little let down by its lack of substance and narrative drive, and there are various moments where the story loses momentum. In its efforts to keep to the self-set 90 minute run time, the plot is stretched out and the slow pace between plot points leaves the overarching story a little vapid. However, as a character piece, the show navigates Peter and Laura’s relationship smoothly, and rounds off the character development with a realistic and evocative ending.

Griff Rhys Jones takes on the role of the comedic Peter, delivering his witty jabs with an almost farcical dryness. Janie Dee’s Laura provides a counterbalance with her hostile and petty retaliation to Peter’s humour. The pair bounce off each other with ease, and their effortless interaction is what makes the show enjoyable.

Although the show is lacking in a few key areas, Griff Rhys Jones and Janie Dee are a star pairing and carry the performance with emotion and realism. With a bit of refinement, An Hour and a Half Late has the potential to be an exceptionally enjoyable and entertaining show.

Runs until 5 March 2022 and continues to tour