Recursion is a play that explores a plethora of different and fascinating themes, tapping into some intriguing sections of psychology in the process; a man who has lost his memory begins to write a play, hounded by a strange man in black, and a cryptic supervisor. However this is a great deal to cover in under an hour, and it does feel like a play trying to do too much. The script, in an attempt to reach its dramatic conclusion, misses out vital points; ambiguous characters are left needlessly foggy (the ‘narrator’, played by Josh Sutherland, proves a constant spook despite some clichéd lines, yet he is never justified) and big developments must occur with little subtlety. Yet there are moments of writing that give the play real warmth, especially in the relationship of the two patients. A special mention should be given to the actress who played Hayley, Rachael Halhead, who took a standard ditzy blonde and gave her heart and pathos. The play had its issues in the acting, but it was a show full of promise; whilst the script was forced at times, at others it was delightfully tense. Although at points the acting felt basic, the actors all had, to different degrees, moments of real talent. But it was still a flawed show; there was some weak miming of props that was completely unnecessary considering the props they were pretending to have were a mobile phone and a tray; neither difficult to obtain, and it weakened the ‘realism’ of the offending scenes. It is a show worth seeing if you get a chance, but prepare to be frustrated at something that is just on the cusp of brilliance.
