While the performances are strong in this experimental piece of theatre, the plot and script doesn’t seem wholly coherent.
Written and directed by Adam Kinneen, this is certainly an experimental play that poses plenty of questions but doesn’t come across as understanding what it wants to say which makes it feel a little bit muddled and less coherent than you would expect.
The premise of the play is a group of five friends trying to navigate their way through life, with questions of identity and thoughts on sex and fear of losing their youth, explored in the wake of events that they are all attending. The conversations are all filled with the aim to be thought provoking as each of the character’s vulnerabilities and insecurities emerge but there is a sense that in the two hours this play tries to say too much with not a definite outcome.
There is no doubting that Kinneen has thoroughly thought about the characters and making them distinctive – the banter in the group scenes are funny, heartfelt and profound, which in contrast to the scenes in which only two or three characters are in conversation feel a little bit more stilted. But it feels as though there is very little plot to keep us invested in the terror that they all feel in different ways to them losing their youth – particularly clear when the second act begins that leaves us feeling as though we have missed something. The real drama comes just a little late.
Despite the bleakness of the conversations and eventual outcome, there is a nice snappy changes of scenes, switching perspectives with ease (although I’m not sure whether the characters need to change clothing quite so often). The opening scenes are bold and filled with intent and rawness but somehow it could have been tightened up slightly more to make a bit more of a devastating impact, while clarity could have been made in terms of the story (it would have been nice to see how the chemistry between River and Ruby developed), while the over use of pauses could be slightly frustrating.
But the performances from the cast are all strong and bring out the multi-layers of the characters they play effortlessly. In particular, the sensitivity of Max Brennan’s performance as River is captivating and thoughtful, with his chemistry with Frederick Russell’s increasingly haunted and introverted Ruby electrifying (although the script could of highlighted how Ruby ends up where he is a lot more). Elsewhere, Andi Bickers as Bailey is self-assured and confident, making a huge impact in particular during the intense scene in which they take control of Ruby and Noah’s actions. I did feel that Nina Fidderman’s Cleo is underused and Joseph Lynch’s character comes across as slightly pompous but Lynch offers more depth to him as much as the script allows him to leaving the audience conflicted on how they feel about him and his actions.
Overall, it feels as though ‘Dick’ just becomes a little bit lost in what it is trying to say and how it wants to say it to make it completely coherent. Some nice ideas and strong performances but it needs more development in terms of the plot.
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ❤️❤️
Dick is on at the Drayton Arms Theatre until the 26th April.