We take a look at what is being said about the West End premiere of Daivd Ireland’s play starring Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden.
The Stage: **** “Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden give subtle and convincing performances in this thoughtful two-hander about alcoholics in search of self-respect.”
The Guardian: **** “The timing is impeccable throughout but as the tables are turned, and James’s behaviour is scrutinised, both give unsettling performances in a drama that specifically interrogates the role of a sponsor yet applies to multiple positions of authority and influence, including parenthood and priesthood.”
WhatsOnStage: **** “Freeman and Lowden spar like champions. The Fifth Step, carefully directed by Finn den Hertog, spins through many moods and multiple questions but it never loses its grip. It is a fascinating study of men with lives out of control, and the danger of the ways they seek to exert their power over others and themselves.”
The Telegraph: *** “Now on the West End, this authentic but patchy study of alcoholism from David Ireland is saved by terrific performances from its two stars.”
Time Out: *** “It’s uneven and didactic. Dialling down the outrage exposes the fact Ireland’s not exactly a man who writes deeply nuanced chracters. But it’s also funny, weird, well acted and provocative in a much more profound way than the nihilistic button pressing of old.”
Everything Theatre: **** “Ultimately, the play identifies there’s perhaps no single way to battle our demons; individual experience demands bespoke belief in coping mechanisms. As James and Luke’s relationship levels out, there’s a glimmer of hope for a changed future and a positive path on which to take their next step together. “
Stage to Page: ***** “While the piece may not provide the conclusion or answers that you’re hoping for, it’s one that will stay with you long after you leave the theatre. The Fifth Step is thought-provoking, raw, and provides two of the most compelling performances I’ve witnessed on stage. An absolute must-see.”
The Standard: **** “As it is, it’s a tight, thought-provoking, 85-minute vehicle for two actors at the top of their game. There’s also an absolutely magnificent final, visual gag that’s almost worth the price of admission alone.”
West End Best Friend: ***** “Gritty, well-humoured and relevant, this show has a strong beating heart, full of intense tension and cathartic moments of release.”
The Independent: *** “David Ireland’s new brutal exposé of Alcoholics Anonymous has some brilliant moments, but it fails to pack a real punch.”
The Arts Desk: **** “The plays of David Ireland have a tendency to build to an explosion, after long stretches of caustic dialogue and very funny banter. The Fifth Step, though, is a gentler beast whose humour ends with a simple visual gag. Maybe because this is more personally sensitive territory?”
The Reviews Hub: **** “The revised text is punchier and still uncomfortably funny, although some of the meatiness of the original finale is lost, replacing it with a Beckettian tethering of two troubled men to a relationship neither can escape. In a process designed to remove surface projections, neither Luka nor James are the men they appear to be, and no one is more surprised than they are.”
Theatre & Tonic: **** “It is thrilling and captivating and potentially a little frustrating, but a complete must-see.”
The Fifth Step continues to run at the @sohoplace until the 26th July.