Writer and Director: Pádraig O’Connor.
For a play that only lasts an hour This, That and The Other’ really does pack a few punches, if not even demystifies key elements of life itself.
The play opens with Maeve Bradley as ‘This’ and Ben Waddell as ‘That’. We can’t be too sure as to where they are but they are somewhere and they are preparing for a marathon. Or are they? Under the surface there is much more going on.
This is not very optimistic. Or is she? She’s well prepared and trained hard for this marathon and sure ‘a little bit of pain never did anyone any harm’ anyway. That is very optimistic but hasn’t trained for this marathon. Or has he? Maybe he’s more prepared than he realises, after all he does say that he ‘covers ground like no tomorrow’. Over the course of the play we start to get an insight into the two, and their questioning resonates beyond the boundaries of the stage.The monologues that ensue from not only This but also from That, our two characters, could be described as the breakdown of preparing for a marathon, but the storyline runs deeper than this or even that. Are they progressing step by step as they run for the finishing line, or do they feel as though they are stuck in place, living a life that isn’t quite what they thought they wanted.
Pretty soon it becomes clear that this is no ordinary race and the finish line is a deadly metaphor of sorts. The play explores the idea of the race against time; beating personal bests and what it is all for. It makes us question: are we just doing this that and the other instead of focusing on what’s in front of us?The play makes us question the idea of being a passenger to our own existence. Ultimately, it makes us wonder if we are somehow running the infinite marathon of life, quickly accumulating minutes and hours in an effort to reach the finish line. But what then?
With relatable themes and quick, humorous dialogue, This, That & The Other is, like the title, so much more than first suggested. Put on your running shoes and get tickets before the play reaches its finishing line.
Runs Until 29th April 2023.
The Review's Hub Score
Thoughtful
