DramaLondonReview

Sniff – Park Theatre, London

Reviewer: Andrew Houghton

Writers: Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson and Felix Grainger

Director: Ben Purkiss

Sniff occupies the later slot of Park Theatre’s current Make Mine A Double evening of new writing. It is quite fitting then, that this gritty production by Make It Beautiful Theatre Company is considerably heavier than its predecessor and sends audiences home with a lot to reflect upon.

On a seemingly normal evening in the run-down bathroom of a small-town pub, Sniff charts the unexpected conversation which arises between two young men who couldn’t be more different. Alex is your typical Canary Wharf bigwig with an important plan for the evening, while local lad Liam just wants to enjoy a pub night out with his friends who have come back from university.

Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson and Felix Grainger have skillfully constructed an engaging and highly intelligent script filled with unexpected turns. The duo deserve high praise for their impressive creation which flicks from silly fun to hard-hitting truths in the blink of an eye. A particularly impactful observation from Liam on the social divides between the university elite and those left behind will not be quickly forgotten.

Less memorable are certain flashback scenes which distract from the bathroom action. Presumably designed to offer further insight into the background of each character, these cut-away moments don’t carry enough emotional or expositional weight to justify the detour from the more engaging main plot.

Fogarty-Graveson is particularly likeable as Liam, offering a cheeky and charismatic presence which nicely counters Grainger’s more stuffy, tightly wound Alex. This does, however, throw a little confusion into the mix when Liam is referred to as making offensive jokes and being the laughing stock of his friendship group. Though few people are looking to make new connections in a pub bathroom, Fogarty-Graveson’s playful, friendly characterisation raises no immediate red flags of being a bad guy.

Sniff is an intense trip that takes audiences on one hell of a ride. Beneath the entertaining premise of two opposites putting the world to rights whilst high in a pub bathroom lie much deeper, darker and more meaningful lessons to learn.

Runs until 24 May 2024

The Reviews Hub Score

One hell of a ride

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The Reviews Hub - London

The Reviews Hub London is under the editorship of Richard Maguire. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

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