We round up the reviews for Benny Ainsworth’s play, running at the theatre until the 20th September.
Broadway World: **** “Within a tight, coherent 60-minute runtime, this foray into the violence lurking on the edges of ordinary lives contains plenty of well-placed suburban Chekhov’s Guns (the toolshed in the garden, or the locked bedroom door), and some clever structural decisions.”
Everything Theatre: **** “The hard-hitting finale ends the narrative at the most horrific point. Vermin opens a door to a place of horror and violence, and gives us a brief glimpse into the darkness on the other side. As a lover of disturbing fiction, this horrifyingplay was totally captivating.”
The Reviews Hub: *** “amidst the grotesque imagery and pitch-dark humour, Ainsworth’s piece has something important to say about the draining destructiveness of unresolved grief.”
All That Dazzles: *** “The problem is Vermin doesn’t always find its footing and relies on shock value at the expense of the writing. The descriptions of what is going on can be extremely gory at times, making for an uncomfortable watch. While I have never had an issue with shows that are uncomfortable, this one perhaps crosses the line of good taste, and the explicit nature of what they describe could have had more of an impact had it been reigned in, allowing the skill in the writing displayed elsewhere to shine”
Theatre & Tonic: **** “Paffett and Ainsworth do put on an extremely enjoyable performance; initially, it feels like a comedy double act, until things take a darker twist. Given this is a very short production at only one hour long, they both keep up the energy and don’t waste a moment with a fast-paced and tightly written script from Ainsworth. The relationship is believable; how many stories have we heard of love at first sight in the strangest of places? The opening feels like it could be an encounter being recounted by someone we know, nothing out of the ordinary there.”
London Theatre 1: ***** “If you enjoy challenging, well-written, superbly acted drama, do try to see Vermin.”
The Spy in the Stalls: **** “I’m no expert on the horror genre, but I believe the point – in films, TV and on stage – is to bring nightmares into consciousness and in so doing allow larger fears to be shared and released. Vermin plays on our fears at several levels – it could also spark a wider conversation about society and what happens when we fail to deal with trauma. Whether I will sleep tonight is another matter.”
Theatre Weekly: ***** “This is not a play for the squeamish, but this is testament to Ainsworth’s script and his and Paffett’s acting. The staging is so pared back, with no props or music, that their storytelling is all we can focus on. Judging by the uncomfortable laughter and visible wincing in the audience, this hit the mark.”
To book tickets visit: https://parktheatre.co.uk/events/vermin/