REVIEW: OVERWHELM by Stacey Cullen at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre 8 – 12 April 2025
“An interesting and timely conversation.” ★★★
After the recent success of “Adolescence” one cannot help but wonder how much young men need to see themselves portrayed on Stage, Film, and TV to offer a helping hand in validating the complexity of their feelings.
The play offers a subtle undercurrent on the nature of the incel movement and how even Jake, who aims to think progressively, can fall prey to the idea that a woman’s lack of love is to blame for his friend’s downfall. Jake also delivers strong judgement over Miles’s girlfriend Lauren whom he believes is taking Miles away from him. The balance to this is his love for his ex-Nora who he believes can do no wrong. The play does well to offer various viewpoints on a situation where no one can come out on top whilst depicting an authentic male friendship.
Both Sam Bates (Jake) and Louis Martino (Miles) perform admirably throughout, comfortably inhabiting their characters and the mess the absence of Riley (played by Harrison Sharpe) has left them in.
However, I believe the plot pacing, lets the actors down. We spend an inordinate amount of time going back and forth on who is to blame for Riley which leads to a lack of balance. We get a handful of blink and you miss it camaraderie between the two and a couple of Riley’s voice notes are hopeful. However, these attempts are too small to get the audience to a place of caring for the young men. A key moment between Miles and Jake that should feel dangerous is never fully delivered. The actors need more of an arc to play with. The ending does hit the right note with the love between the two being evident despite their differences but sadly the plot let down what should have been a beautiful pay off.
A final note, the choice to never show the actor playing Riley (Harrison Sharpe) is a bold one and realistic to the circumstance of the plot but I think having the actors do nothing during Riley’s videos and voice notes was a waste. The piece could do with tech support to give Bates and Martino an atmosphere to amplify their performance, which will help Overwhelm to strike more of a chord with its audience.
The play is worth the watch so go catch it at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre while you can. The show runs until Saturday 12th April.
- Overwhelm is at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre from 8th – 12th April.
- Written and directed by Stacey Cullen, from Working Progress Collective who are associates of the Lion and Unicorn.
- Box office: What's On — LION & UNICORN THEATRE
Reviewed by Heather Antonia Parsons
