REVIEW: ONE HUNDRED PERCENT at Barons Court Theatre 17 – 21 June 2025

‘Light and entertaining examination of success and failure’ ★★★

Two males sit opposite each other in an awkward space. It soon becomes clear these two have previously crossed paths. One’s a jobbing slash failing actor. The other, is his former examiner who once awarded him the perfect grade of 100%. But if the actor was able to warrant such a flawless assessment, how come he can’t land any roles? How come, a decade after this eponymous grade, his unquestionable talent not been recognised or rewarded? And, why has he been dropped by his agent?

The desperate actor, slightly odd, possibly a bit unhinged, demands answers. Played by one of the writers and originator of the piece Benjamine Sumrie (co-writers are Marco Biasioli and Liam Grogan) insecurity and low self-esteem seethe from every pore. The Scouse examiner, David Allen, who in his time has processed hundreds of young thespians in an educational factory somewhere, has no real memory of the individual before him and, finds himself in a game of wits, trying to double guess the motives of this young man, who has now worryingly locked the door.

How the dynamics of this relationship play out in the claustrophic environment of the actor’s home – well recreated in the basement of Barons Court Theatre - form the arc of the piece. The power shifts and character reversals, keep the energy up for an entertaining hour of theatre. Hell hath no fury like an entitled ex-student but who is the biggest failure of the two? “It’s true, those who can’t do, teach” admits the examiner, once an understudy at the Lyric. Who exactly has had the most miserable work life? Who has achieved the least?

It’s a fun premise for a two hander, but the characters are a little flat and could be more rounded. What has made the actor so desperate for validation? There’s a suggestion his issues have deeper roots, but this is not explored. There’s also a class element that hovers but remains unploughed. The ex-student, from a comfortable background, can languish in gainful unemployment in the parental home, in “a performativity of hardship.” The examiner, meanwhile, who becomes more Uber Scouse as tensions rise, must work to survive including work he doesn’t particularly like, such as examining young actors.

One Hundred Percent is a comic two hander played for laughs. It cocks a snook at educational environments who fill students’ heads with unrealistic ideals and questions the meaninglessness of metrics when assessing arts-based subjects. Because the title and the promotional blurb give away the premise, there are few surprises for an audience and the somewhat predictable ending has the lightness of a comedy sketch. The direction could be more dynamic, and the space used more inventively but nonetheless, One Hundred Percent is an entertaining look at failure, success and how this is gauged.

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT at Barons Court Theatre 17 – 21 June 2025

BOX OFFICE

https://www.baronscourttheatre.com/100

Presented by Precarious Theatre

Director: Liam Grogan

Writers: Benjamin Sumrie, Marco Biasioli, and Liam Grogan

Producers: Liam Grogan and Benjamin Sumrie

Assistant Director: David Allen

Assistant Producer: Francesca Maria Izzo

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Cast:

ACTOR - Benjamin Sumrie

EXAMINER - Francesca Maria Izzo & David Allen (alternating nights)