REVIEW: IN THE NET by Misha Levkov at Jermyn Street Theatre 12 Jan – 4 Feb 2023

‘Casting a net of hope in strife-torn London through the power of string’ ★★
 
London. The year 2025. A refugee crisis and an ongoing drought has led to the imposition of a draconian state regime which divides communities and suffocates lives. Laura has recently lost her Mum, Miriam. She, half-sister Anna and their Dad are grappling with their grief. Hala, a Syrian refugee whom Miriam helped to get to the UK, is battling an inhumane Big Brother style immigration system that is constantly looking for ways to expel her from the country and crush her spirit.
 
Inspired by the memory of her dead mother, Laura decides to create an Eruv. A safe space, its boundaries marked out by wire or string, which in Judaism creates an area where the laws of the Sabbath can be relaxed. She wants to bring the community together within the Eruv to “mix” and be themselves. Defying the ban imposed by the local council and the advice of those close to her, she forges ahead with her plan.
 
The concept of the play is compelling: how we can challenge authoritarianism and bigotry through connecting with and celebrating our humanity. Sadly, the execution of the idea fell well short of the potential of the play. The text was stilted and didactic text, with everyone speaking in aphorisms and metaphors, which became more and more tiresome as the play progressed. It was as if every character was competing to outdo each other in their pseudo intellectualism. There was barely a line in the play when a character spoke like a normal human. This was such a shame as the text became a barrier, preventing any kind of a connection to what should have been the very human and moving stories of the characters.
 
The actors did their best but were constrained by the weaknesses of the script and the underdeveloped, one-dimensional characters. Suzanne Ahmet stood out as the stoic and dignified Hala, and Tony Bell made the most of his role as the evil immigration officer. Plaudits to Jonathan Chan who created the ever growing “net” of the play’s title through a stunning lighting design.
 
The writer Misha Levkov, shouldn’t be disheartened. Her idea was great, and this is after all, her debut play. (I must admit, it was surprising to read that the play had had the services of a dramaturg.) Levkov may want to consider the old adage drummed into writers – “show don’t tell”. This would serve her well as she develops as a writer.

Photographer: Steve Gregson

IN THE NET by Misha Levkov, Jermyn Street Theatre, 12 January – 4 February 2023, Jermyn Street Theatre in collaboration with Wo-Lab. Tickets: £35. Box office: http://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/

Performers: Suzanne Ahmet, Tony Bell, Carlie Diamond, Anya Murphy, Hywell Simons

Produced by Jermyn Street Theatre and Wo-Lab

Director – Vicky Moran

Set & Costume Designer – Ingrid Hu

Lighting Designer – Jonathan Chan

Sound Designer – Matt Eaton

Projection Designer – Daniel Denton

Dramaturg – Frey Kwa Hawking

Movement Director – Nadia Sohawon

Reviewer: Srabani Sen

Srabani is a theatre actress and playwright. As an actress she has performed at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (The Globe), the Arcola, Southwark Playhouse, The Pleasance and numerous fringe theatres, in a range of roles from Shakespeare to plays by new and emerging writers. She has written several short and full length plays. Her play Tawaif was longlisted for the ETPEP Finborough award, and her play Vijaya was shortlisted for the Sultan Padamsee Playwrights Award in Mumbai.