Set in a café, two couples interact over menus, in this production, at a table identical to those sat around by the audience. They struggle not just to order food, but also, more importantly, to determine the future path for their relationships.
The writing is precise, with acutely observed conversations very realistically penned.
The writing is precise, with acutely observed conversations very realistically penned. There is a real sense, aided by the staging in this venue, that you could indeed sit in a café, while these conversations unravelled at the next table. However, it is debatable whether they are conversations which one would necessarily strain to overhear.
Witnessing only a snapshot of the relationships, as we might in real life, is an interesting device, but makes it a little difficult to interpret what the characters hope to achieve through their interactions, as we lack a broader image of their relationships to contextualise these exchanges. Heightening the stakes for the characters involved might have lifted the pace, while maintaining the brilliantly naturalistic dialogue.
Although the cast give consistent performances, and inhabit their largely well developed characters with conviction, it is challenging to imagine how these characters were ever happy together. Although the second pairing offers brief hints at a prior relationship, through their little games, it is still hard to comprehend how this strong woman, who appears infuriated by the man’s very personality, could have been with him. This might have been rectified if we could have seen even a glimmer of endearment towards her other half during his embarrassing antics.
Detectable traces of a shared connection, or happy memories remain, even in the rockiest of relationships, and yet these were lacking, which undermined the relationships and prevented the production from fully engaging the audience.
The first couple certainly succeeded in creating an awkward atmosphere, but unfortunately their interaction never moved beyond this. An interesting past was alluded to, but frustratingly never explored. While the narrative had clearly been developed outwith the onstage action, the play would have benefited from some of the darker threads of the history of these relationships being discussed by the characters.
Some interesting themes are touched upon, but ultimately are left unexplored, leaving behind the shallow snapshot of two relationships, without exposing the gritty truths which fuel the tensions within the couples.
