Adam & Eve, Jack Studio Theatre – Review

Pros: Captivating new writing, perfectly written for the modern era that most twenty-somethings are experiencing. 

Cons: There could be less stylisation to keep a consistent atmosphere throughout.
Adam & Eve, Jack Studio Theatre – Review

Summary

Rating

80

Excellent

A fantastic and relatable piece of new writing, perfectly portrayed with intriguing and frustratingly good performances. 

Jack Studio Theatre will never let you down with the feelings of comfort and inclusivity. On the main high street in Brockley, easy to access by bus and train, this Off West End pub theatre always has a strong line up of shows from various backgrounds. This mid-week performance by Broken Silence Theatre was Adam & Eve. A story about a couple looking to take some new, big steps in their relationship that inevitably hit a bump in the road. Eve, a savvy estate agent, quick-witted and smart mouthed and Adam, a tense and once suave guy, find love in school and go on to dream of the perfect house with the perfect amount of children to go with it.

This production was the perfect display of new, modern writing. Being a twenty-something in 2017, I found it a breath of fresh air to be seeing and experiencing conversations about issues so relatable to making big life decisions. This writing is something we should be seeing more of in theatres across the world. Tim Cook should be very proud of the relationships he has built, the conversations he has aired and the issues he has tackled. This fantastic writing was put into action by Paul Macauley and detailed performers Christopher Adams, Jeannie Dickinson and Anuschka Rapp.

The performance began comedic, showing the relationship between Adam and Eve and how they came to be. We see Jeannie’s portrayal of Eve’s funny, lovable ways and the banterful relationship she has with her partner, Adam. As the performance went on, the connection between these characters became a lot stronger and more interactive with one another. At times, the emphasis towards the audience took away from the couple’s intensity which is why I feel it took so long to really get a feel for both of these characters. The aspects of stylisation that broke up the scenes didn’t always make sense. There seemed to be no need for these elements as the performances and the writing did all of the work already.

By the end of this short performance, you are taken on such a whirlwind of emotions that you never expected. Adam’s personality becomes so frustrating that you forget that he’s acting. The highlight of this performance for me was the touching and electric scenes between the female characters, Nikki (Anuschka Rapp) and Eve (Jeannie Dickinson). Their connection, their strength and their flawless performances were so amazing to watch. Their characters’ similarities as well as their contrasts were a true inspiration.

Simple sets and lighting were the superb partner to the magnificent writing, detailed direction and engaging performances. This production has the potential to be something very big one day and I would be delighted to see this go further. The themes it addresses, especially in this current climate, were compelling. I found myself saying ‘Wow, that’s like me’ more often than I should admit. This performance is something that Broken Silence Theatre should be very proud of and they deserves every full house they will inevitably get.

Author: Tim Cook
Director: Paul Macauley
Producer: Broken Silence Theatre
Assistant Producer: Cerys Knighton
Box Office: 0333 666 3366
Booking Link: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/brockleyjackstudio/events
Booking Until: This show has now completed its run.