Some Explicit Polaroids
Mark Ravenhill
Directed by Nick Edwards
Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington
Star rating: 4
Photo credit: Paul Ros
It’s a play which manages to be outrageously funny without ever becoming a comedy in the usual sense of the word. Instead, Some Explicit Polaroids, which dates from 1999, is poignant, pertinent drama about societal and political changes over fifteen years. And this production showcases the talents of six very competent, well directed actors.
Nick (James Stephen Finn) has just been released from prison after serving a long sentence for murder – and he wants to reconnect, especially with his former partner, Helen (Rachel Bothamley). But of course there are problems and it’s a complex network that he becomes associated with: Nadia (Lulu Freeman) is a nightclub worker whose hedonistic close friend Tim (Andrew White) hires Victor (Alexander Astaniotis) as a sex slave. Then there’s be-suited Jonathan (Elisha Sessions) a very different type who has unfinished business with Nick. The cross currents between the six of them are intricate, dramatic and sometimes tragic – especially in the hospital scene. It’s all a long way from the angry Thatcherite world which Nick left.
Finn puts in a fine performance as the troubled, contrite, caring but easily angered Nick. Bothamley matches him well as the long-suffering Rachel who has now moved on, works in local government and has aspirations to run for parliament – but Nick, whom she still fancies at some deep level, is likely to scupper her chances, given her history with him.
Freeman is excellent as superficially sassy but vulnerable Nadia. She constantly spouts the “feel good” language she has evidently learned from counsellors to the extent that she refuses to get angry even when an off-stage boyfriend keeps beating her up. Freeman has a real gift for timing and facial expression.
White is deliciously camp when his character is confident and well but, tones it right down to reveal previously hidden anxieties as the play progresses. And Astaniotis is hilarious as the body-obsessed Victor (there can’t be many plays which feature masturbating a corpse) although he too deepens in all in the second act.
Sessions, who is warmly convincing, has a different sort of role – apparently very smooth and grown up. In a sense, therefore, he’s a foil to the other five although even he isn’t quite what he seems.
Every member of this company is adept at listening and they play off each other pleasingly. It’s impressive work and a credit to director, Nick Edwards.
The set (Millie Weston and Emma Brown) is rather good too. Two contrasting sitting rooms sit on either side of a small dais in front of a screen onto which scenes (River Thames from House of Commons Terrace, for instance) are projected: video design by Max Maxwell.
Some Explicit Polaroids is thoughtful, entertaining and worth seeing,
