Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
Walks the fine line between intense conflict and absurdist humour to tell a powerful story of trauma, anxiety, family tension and women’s experiences of assault.Summary
Rating
Excellent
Ciara Elizabeth Smyth’s Lie Low hit me like a punch in the face. It’s an intense experience that borders on the traumatic. Its power coming from how simply and strangely it is executed.
The play follows Faye (Charlotte McCurry) who cannot sleep after being assaulted during a home invasion. Fearing it will happen again, she enlists the help of her brother, Naoise, (Thomas Finnegan) to overcome her fears by simulating an attack. However, Naoise has dark secrets of his own that he needs to confess.
The show is an upfront exploration of the themes of sexual violence, anxiety, fear and family trauma. Most of the play is dialogue between Faye and Naoise, which carefully turns from strained pleasantries into emotionally charged confrontations. A lot of drama is packed into its tight 70 minutes, while directly addressing the sexual violence faced by women and how they are not always believed when they talk about their experiences. And through Naoise, it addresses the ways that men justify their behaviour or claim that they are the victim.
Faye and Naoise’s arguments dramatise Faye’s struggle to move on with her life after her assault and its lasting impact on her. The challenging larger social issues addressed arise naturally from the characters’ experiences, creating conflict and raising the tension throughout. All of this makes the conversation between the two come across as realistic, a genuine fight between siblings with a strained relationship, so preventing Lie Low from becoming didactic, whilst still addressing difficult subject matter in a complex and sensitive way.
The tension is offset by moments of absurdist humour and witty dialogue, whilst choreographed dance sequences with Faye and a duck mask-wearing home invader serve as a bridge between scenes. Not only does this vary the tone, allowing for breath between moments of conflict, but at times the humour further adds to the tension, provoking awkward laughter.
Both McCurry and Finnegan deliver strong performances, conveying through subtlety of speech and action unsaid thoughts and the tension that lurks beneath their relationship. McCurry is especially captivating in her portrayal of Faye, convincingly showing her state of mind as she seamlessly moves between manic and anxious.
The sparse staging is effectively used, with only a few props – duck mask, wardrobe, box of cornflakes, a rock – but each playing an essential role. Listed out of context, this bizarre collection of items conveys the absurd humour of Lie Low, yet each is deployed for maximum tension.
Lie Low is a riveting play that left me speechless. It is tense, uncomfortable and moving. The challenging themes explored head on will mean it won’t be for everyone, but if you are willing to enter its strange and dark world then it is a powerful experience.
Written by: Ciara Elizabeth Smyth
Directed by: Oisín Kearney
Set and Lighting Design by: Ciaran Bagnall
Sound Design by: Denis Clohessy
Movement Direction by: Paula O’Reilly
Fight Coordination by: Philip Rafferty
Stage Manager: Ciara Nolan
Lie Low plays at Royal Court Theatre until 8 June. Further information and bookings can be found here.
