London.

MYDIDAE
by Jack Thorne.

Trafalgar Studios (Studio 2) 14 Whitehall SW1A 2DY To 30 March 2013.
Mon–Sat 7.45 pm Mat Sat 3pm.
Runs 1hr 10min. No interval.

TICKETS: 0844 871 7627.
www.atgtickets.com/shows/mydidae/trafalgar-studios
Review: Francis Grin 10 March.

Jack Thorne uncovers brilliance in the mundane.
When it comes to current theatre trends, there’s a movement to ‘think big’. Playwrights are continuously encouraged to explore major global issues and give them a home on stage. Although I absolutely agree that the theatre should tackle subjects which are politically and socially ambitious, I still can’t help but occasionally miss the intimacy that often lingers in the most ordinary events.

Award-winning playwright Jack Thorne fully embraces this thirst for the intimate in his latest play Mydidae, which takes us to the most private of spaces – the bathroom. Here, a middle-class couple reflect on their relationship, revealing all the little private intimacies which sit beneath the surface of their ‘happy relationship’. As the conversation grows more menacing, something which has sat dormant in the past is finally ready to awaken.

Director Vicky Jones does an excellent job of creating this ‘private space’ . The characters urinate, pick their noses, scratch at their underwear and repeatedly check themselves in the mirror, reminding us that what we are witnessing is an internal space, separate from the public world. We become the voyeurs and relate to the characters on a personal level.

Actors Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Marian) and Keir Charles (David) could not possibly do this peice greater justice with their highly natural performances. I was especially impressed by Marian’s character – a woman who embraces a new kind of ‘femininity’, one which is common in the real world but has not set foot on stage often enough. Waller-Bridge brings this character to life, a woman with quirks – who embodies both ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ qualities, making her a highly refreshing character to watch. Keir Charles is equally brilliant as he carries a quiet violence with him, one which is ready to pull its trigger at any time.

With such honest writing and performances, this becomes a brilliantly moving production. I will certainly be catching Jack Thorne’s next play.

Marian: Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
David: Keir Charles.

Director: Vicky Jones.
Designer: Amy Jane-Cook.
Lighting: Jack Williams.
Sound/Composer: Isobel Waller-Bridge.

2013-03-14 00:54:50