We round up the reviews for the London revival of Jake Brunger’s play, running at the King’s Head Theatre until the 17th August.
Broadway World: **** “Four Play’s ending tableau, where a character blows out a birthday candle in a desperate gesture of reconciliation with their partner, reminds me more than a little of the ending to Sondheim’s Company. Like that musical, Four Play leaves us with no clear vision on what monogamy, or non-monogamy, should look like, but still manages to be life-affirming in how it dares to wonder about it. We may not know the answers any more clearly than when we entered the theatre, but we have many questions to ask ourselves on the walk home.”
WhatsOnStage: *** “Jack Sain directed the original Old Vic version and his new staging here bounces between realistic and highly stylised (excellent movement work by Charlie Martin) and is lit with mood-altering panache by Daniel Carter-Brennan. Brunger’s gift for sparky dialogue is undeniable, but the play feels oddly dated; it may just be that the themes are overly familiar in gay dramas, or that what seemed provocative in 2015 registers less vividly in 2025.”
All That Dazzles: ***** “Jake Brunger’s writing is refreshing in its exploration of queer culture and relationships, shining a light on those relationships that are certainly underrepresented both in conversation and in plays such as this one.”
The Stage: **** “The thrust stage setting, designed with an eye for urban chic by Peiyao Wang, is remarkably fluid, negating the need for awkward scene changes.”
Harry Theatre Life: **** “If you’re into messy, complicated, awkwardly honest stories about love, sex, and commitment in the modern world, this one’s for you.”
Theatre & Tonic: **** “Jack Sain’s direction is brimming with excitement and energy, with Charlie Martin’s movement section at the very beginning being a standout moment. However without a doubt the cast are the main stars of this show. Together they work beautifully well. Lewis Cornay takes on the role of squeaky clean and lovable Rafe. Cornay is so captivating in this role that you just warm to Rafe from the very beginning, almost feeling protective over him.”
Unmissable Theatre: **** “Overall, Four Play is a sharp and stylish exploration of modern queer relationships: consistently funny, emotionally intelligent, and confidently staged.”
London Theatre Reviews.co.uk: **** “Still, this is a well-acted, smartly directed revival that handles its subject matter with intelligence and style. Four Play may not break new ground, but it offers a knowing, sometimes biting look at love and longing in modern queer life.”
The Reviews Hub: ** “If the job of the writer is to inspire debate, then Brunger succeeds in Four Play. The comedy is deftly penned, but he might be better served if his characters elicited more empathy. Andy’s plaintive demand, “Why didn’t you choose me?” is directed not at the partner they profess to love, but at Rafe and Pete. The extent of Michael’s self-loathing epiphany goes little beyond the homophobic conclusion that, in effect, gay men would be happier if we were not such sluts. You may find it hard to care what happens to these people or understand why they got together in the first place.”
Theatre Weekly: **** “Sain’s direction is taut and confident, allowing the emotional beats to land without ever feeling overwrought. The production is beautifully supported by Julian Starr’s evocative sound design, which subtly enhances the shifting moods on stage, and Peiyao Wang’s clean, modern design that keeps the focus firmly on the characters.”
West End Wilma: ***** “Whilst the story isn’t particularly a new one, the way it is told is beautiful and it is a benchmark for how queer theatre can be done well.”
Reviews Gate: *** “Four Play is really just 1969’s Bob & Carol Ted & Alice for the LGBTQ generation none of whom will have seen the film – but the seven year itchers do get scratched. Rafe and Pete may end up a little wiser in the ways of the world and the demands of the flesh. The other pair are possibly less unscathed.”
London Theatre 1: **** “The dialogue touches on some contemporary issues, particularly ‘generation rent’ and the ubiquity of mobile telephony. But as something that, according to the production’s programme, was originally commissioned as a ‘state of the nation gay play’, it feels far more of a look at how monogamy is viewed within the gay community, and more particularly, how issues relating to trust and honesty should be responded to as they arise. There’s some flesh on display, but it’s really about the thought processes, both internal and external, and the dramatic tension that rises (and rises, and rises) as the moral and ethical implications of Pete’s plan unfold. An intense and intriguing ninety minutes.”
The Spy in the Stalls: ** 1/2 “Four Play tackles some fascinating and thorny issues revolving around queer relationships, but its execution is shallow.”
My Views From the Stalls: ***** “The combination of thought provoking writing, a superb cast, and tight direction by Jack Sain has created a must-see treat of a production. If my diary permits, I will be heading back for a second viewing.”
To book tickets visit: https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/four-play-zpj4