REVIEW: Hello Mammon at White Bear Theatre 9 – 13 Dec 2026

'The hedonism of humans especially young adults will never fail to provide theatrical delight' ★★★

“You cannot serve both God and Mammon” proclaims the Bible and Vaughan Evans’s new play. Mammon, the very encapsulation of material wealth, idolatry and obsessive possession, “slowly twists itself inside you” claims one of Vaughan’s characters. The hedonism of humans especially young adults will never fail to provide theatrical delight.

Now, Krimson Kestrel Theatre have not made a religious play. Instead, they’ve formed a piece set in a simple London living room, that challenges the idealistic morals of university students and how quickly they will learn the corrupting realities of money.

We have the set-up of a great play here: A five-bit cast, comprised of four students, studying Medicine, Acting, Economics and Finance, respectively; a few locations constructed through a very simple set which mostly travels well over the ten-year period this work is set within; moments of remarkable insight about lost youth, compromised love and lust for power.

Yet, something still feels missing. Scenes that should have packed a punch ended as a misfire and changes between them could have been that little bit tighter. Complete and compelling character arcs were few and far between in the script whilst the costume or set department might have gone that little bit further to remedy some of these problems.

Often the characters felt based on stereotypes. Jim (Stefan Chanyaem), at first portrayed as a cocky, disagreeable, money-crazed sleazebag, feels more like an artist’s caricature of an investment banker than the real deal. Even the resident actor of this student group felt restrained, either as a self-doubting teenager who hasn’t removed her baby teeth yet – even in her 20s - or an insufferable stage star that can’t connect with her peers.

It was our actors who carried the play upon their shoulders. A remarkable group effort by all the performers. Christian Loveless, Mia Nuttgens, Laura Rea, and Stefan Chanyaem shook with emotional fervour on all the right beats. If required to play drunken 20-somethings, 30-year-olds having an existential mid-life crisis, or convincing lovers, each of them succeeded together with notable spirit. Daniel Wain, who stepped on for all of ten minutes, gave two exceptional portrayals of older, disillusioned business managers, jolting the second act’s start into the correct gear.

Overall, Hello Mammon provided a decent outing for those wanting to grab a pint and forget these dark December nights at the moment.  I admire Vaughan’s commitment to tackle topical and intriguing issues through plots that have universal relevance. However, there is certainly room for dramatic improvement and some more general script edits.

HELLO MAMMON

Written by Vaughan Evans

Cast

Mark: Christian Loveless

Sam: Mia Nuttgens

Chloe: Laura Rea

Jim: Stefan Chanyaem

Brad & Philip: Daniel Wain

Director: Sean Orsolya Nagy

Producer: Vaughan Evans
 

Reviewed by Harry Speirs