Review: LATELY by James Lewis at Lion and Unicorn Theatre 7 – 18 Sept 2021

Directed by David Brady and produced by his company Proforca, the show had a very distinctive style. Proforca Theatre Company are fast becoming known for their sparse design details:  Little or no set; sound and lighting used sparingly but effectively. There was also Projection on this occasion but again this was used economically. It helped to create the milieu with the seascape being particularly successful at adding mood to the piece.  

The story begins in a seaside town with Callum and Alison speaking about each other and their experiences. They both have difficult family lives but respond differently to their experiences. Alf wants to get out of the town whilst Cal believes this is where he belongs.  

The beautiful lyrical script by James Lewis was a pleasure to hear. The work is cleverly circular with a lot of ground being effortlessly covered in between. The denouement really elevates the work and has a satisfying and all too believable conclusion. This was one of the major beauties of the piece, the poetic script with its smart structure. 

The show alternates casts and on the night, it was the turn of Lauren Ferdinand and Matt Wake. They are serious roles to play which demand extreme emotional responses. Wake has a particularly expressive face which gives his difficult role credence. Unfortunately, a lack of chemistry between the pair made their relationship seem a little wooden. If this could be resolved the other minor quibbles would cease to exist (they would no longer be noticed). 

For example, the show sometimes seemed to lack theatricality, perhaps due its large number of monologues which encouraged the actors to face the audience with little chance for interaction between them. The fireworks scene turned this around by using the lights as fireworks which enables the pair (and the audience) to turn their heads following the imagined explosions. Perhaps this could have been pushed further but it fitted well with the show’s overall understated design. 

An enjoyable show covering sensitive themes of suicide, and abuse compassionately with a real understanding of the issues.  

Read our interview with director David Brady here

Presented by Proforca Theatre Company

LATELY by James Lewis at Lion and Unicorn Theatre

7 – 18 Sept 2021 7.30pm

Box Office https://www.thelionandunicorntheatre.com/whats-on

Reviewer: Heather Jeffery is Editor of London Pub Theatres Magazine