Writer: Pavel Kohout
Director: Peter Kavanagh
Cyanide At 5 is a psychological drama penned by prizewinning author Pavel Kohout and, despite achieving success across Europe since 1997, has never been performed before in the UK. This month director and co-producer Peter Kavanagh put that right, bringing this satisfyingly intriguing two-hander to the King’s Head Theatre.
A flustered fan arrives at the home of acclaimed writer Zofia, who has achieved great success with her novel detailing the experiences of a young Jewish woman during WW2. Irene, the eccentric admirer, seems harmless as she gushes over the story – a regular occurrence for Zofia after years of fame – yet their meeting takes an intense turn when a real-life connection to the work is uncovered and the questions start getting too close to home.
Following a slightly slow start, laden with exposition, Cyanide At 5 acquires pace and tension once Zofia and Irene’s psychological chess game of morality takes centre stage. The appeal of this production is found within the slowly unfolding conflict between the two women and the cast make enticing work of this.
From her first steps onstage Philippa Heimann, as Irene, has a captivating presence and she bears most of the weight of the story’s arc with a strong performance that is consistently intriguing. Playing opposite, Lise-Ann McLaughlin has a rather stuffy and entitled attitude as Zofia which suits the role well, reeling off stories and demonstrating her ‘care’ with a rather frank guise.
A handful of set pieces support the tale, with old-fashioned furniture adorning the stage to suitably indicate the comfortable, refined living space of Zofia. Initially there is concern that the staging will not fully accommodate the thrust style seating, however the actors find their feet and these thoughts dissolve as the story takes hold.
Cyanide At 5 proves itself to be quite a gripping production, with steady pacing and engaging performances from the cast. Kohout can be proud of this worthy British debut.
Runs until 26 November 2022
