Writer: Robert Bingham
Director: Joshua Jewkes
Drastic Actions is a new play by Robert Bingham. The 75-minute long one act piece centres on Olly (played by Bingham) who is burdened by emotional turmoil, impairing his judgement, and threatening his relationships. The lack of any meaningful relationship with his absent parents, and his (unfortunately not absent) brother means he feels a profound sense of loneliness.
The subject of his infatuation is Emma (played by Steph Shaw), one of his oldest friends. Over the years the way Olly feels about Emma changes from friendship to something more, though exactly what he’s not sure. All he is sure of is that he wants their relationship to change. Unfortunately for him, Emma does not share these feelings, though her best friend Dawn (played by Joy Brenugat) does, or at least enough for a casual fling.
Olly’s older brother Chris (played by Benjamin Gavan) appears as a regular thorn in his side, regularly breaking the fourth wall to tell the audience just how much he enjoys doing so.
The play travels back and forth in time between the start of their relationships (probably about five years old) and the present day (late teens, early 20’s). While on the page it might be a nice idea, on the stage it makes for uncomfortable watching with baby voices and playground antics that make the show feel rather amateur.
The piece opens with Olly centre stage, sitting pensively while the audience takes their seats. Once the show starts, we get an ill-conceived set piece of contemporary dance(ish) movements set to dramatic music which looks like little more than a youth drama exercise gone wrong. This is followed by an opening monologue by Chris, a thoroughly unlikeable character who offers little in the way of charisma or wit, which rather sets the scene for the rest of the show.
One of the biggest issues is that the two male characters are so unlikeable it’s difficult to feel any empathy for them. Both are 5-year-olds in the bodies of young adults, tempestuous, immature, and whiny.
The female characters are far more relatable as unlike their male counterparts, they’ve grown up. When Olly’s advances are rejected by Emma it’s no surprise to the audience – the only surprise is that Dawn doesn’t feel the same.
The show is a story that’s been told many times before to good effect, but on this occasion it falls well short.
Runs until 29 January 2022
The Reviews Hub Score
A bit whiny
