Writer: E.J. Anderson
Director: Nick Bromley
Cara and Matt’s flat is shabby chic minus the chic. Rising rents do not correlate with the falling standards of living and the couple have had enough. At loggerheads with their landlord, who has men positioned outside the property ready to pounce and repossess it, one of them must remain at home to prevent this from happening. As Cara attempts to mask the dank odour of the flat, Matt prepares dinner ahead of his parent’s impending arrival. Only his father Robert shows up, however, having been booted out of the marital home for reasons that are initially unclear, although it has something to do with some flowers he has pruned. Oh, and an affair. Dishevelled with his tie seemingly snipped in half, Robert makes himself at home but for just how long is he intending to stay?
The premise of E.J. Anderson’s play boasts a wealth of comic potential plus some timely commentary on the cost-of-living crisis and ‘generation rent’. The compact Theatre at the Tabard allows us to feel as though we are there in Matt and Cara’s living room, effectively designed by Rob McKinley and Lily Minores. The first act generates a healthy amount of laughter from the audience but as we progress the pace begins to wane.
At two hours, the play is simply too long and would benefit greatly from an edit and perhaps pack more of a punch if it were condensed into just one act. The primary issue here is there are too many story strands and we are unsure as to which to cling. The result is that our attention drifts from character to character without us having enough of a tangible thread to follow and invest in. For every joke that lands, another falls flat and rather than being the tight and cohesive piece it needs to be, the play feels overwritten and drawn out. It’s a real shame as the blueprint for an engaging and entertaining evening is certainly there.
The cast endeavours to elevate proceedings but there isn’t a tremendous amount for them to excavate from their roles. John Gorick convinces as Robert and the actor’s background in improvisation shines through but feels frustratingly contained. A character experiencing something of an existential crisis would lend itself well to some improv but there is a sense of Gorick holding back. That said, it’s a humorous turn that has us intrigued as to what the character might do or say next.
Bradley Crees is a delight as Matt with the actor offering us a beautifully detailed and naturalistic performance. He is well complemented by Elizabeth Back as his girlfriend. Back exhibits an array of funny facial expressions and subtle mannerisms throughout and comes over as suitably quirky. Mark Parsons completes the cast as slimy accountant Armitage who throws a spanner in the works with his financial dealings with both Robert and Cara. The actor brings a new energy to the mix and enjoys some particularly comical moments. The four are clearly committed to the project and bring their A-game but alas it’s not quite enough to rescue what quickly becomes a meandering, uneven few hours.
Runs until 28 October 2023
The Reviews Hub Score
Meandering
