Review: Red Speedo, Orange Tree Theatre

Red Speedo uses the theme of sports doping to explore ambition, morals and capitalism. Written by Lucas Hnath, the hilarious script is brought alive by a small cast of four, each adding depth to the production. With direction by Matthew Dunster, the cast seamlessly switches between humorous and sombre moments. 

I had never seen a swimming pool on stage before and was surprised to find one in the Orange Tree’s auditorium. Walking in is like stepping into one of David Hockney’s swimming paintings, with geometric shapes in shades of blue dancing across the ceiling, walls and floor, representing pool tiles. What’s particularly clever is that the darker blues form a vague outline of a person on the floor – a hint of the climactic scene towards the end.

Best known for playing gangster Michael Gray in Peaky Blinders, this production marks Finn Cole’s professional stage debut. He commands the stage with certainty and skill, exhibiting an impressive American accent. Cole plays Ray, a swimmer on the verge of qualifying for the Olympics. He wears only red Speedo briefs and has an incredibly lifelike tattoo of a large sea serpent that starts on his back and wraps around his leg. Ray humorously explains his decision behind it – to be easily distinguishable when swimming in the water.

Yet, Ray’s swimming success is undeserved as he has been taking performance-enhancing drugs. He earnestly tries to justify this by claiming it puts him on an equal footing with his fellow athletes in the swimming club: his fingers are much shorter than theirs. Cole professes this with such sincerity that after laughing at Ray’s ridiculous excuse, you want to believe him and to a degree, you feel sympathetic towards the character. 

Ray comes across as harmless: he is sweet and ingenuous. But we are left wondering how much of this is genuine naivety and how much is a clever cover for a more deceptive nature. Cole’s ability to convey this nuanced portrayal is excellent and, as the audience soon discovers, nothing is what it seems.

Ciarán Owens plays Peter, Ray’s older brother. He is an opportunistic lawyer, Trumpian in the way he speaks. Peter is assertive and slippery, and clearly used to getting what he wants. Owens’ rapport with Cole is remarkably believable: it feels as though they have grown up together. They engage in quick-paced back-and-forth dialogue that mimics natural speech. Some beats were missed on the night but throughout the run this should tighten up. Additionally, Ray’s coach (Fraser James) has some fragmented lines due to the brothers talking over him. This disrupts the power dynamics and we see James masterfully depict a man who is rapidly losing control. 

Slower-paced conversations are held between Ray and his ex-girlfriend, Lydia (Parker Lapaine). By discussing their past, the two reduce the sense of urgency in the present. With the deliberate pace change, Hnath adds a layer of romance and lust to his play, introducing another type of motivation for Ray that allows Lydia to persuade him to rectify previous wrongs at Peter’s expense.

As the play goes on, the lighting becomes ominous, adding to the tension. In some moments, characters are underlit and look sinister. Sally Ferguson’s design enables light to reflect off the water, illuminating the cast and the theatre. 

The only downside of Red Speedo is the horrible horn noise that plays whenever a scene changes. What initially gives a jarring effect, becomes overused and irritating. This is minor though, because Hnath’s dynamic and exciting writing more than makes up for it.

As the full extent of Ray’s doping is revealed, the tension reaches an unbearable height and culminates in an explosive confrontation which is expertly choreographed. This gripping ending leaves a lasting impact, reiterating the play’s themes of ambition and morality.

Written by: Lucas Hnath

Directed by: Matthew Dunster

Set Designed by: Anna Fleischle

Costume Designed by: Cat Fuller

Lighting Designed by: Sally Ferguson

Red Speedo plays at the Orange Tree Theatre until Saturday 10th August.

Further information and tickets can be found here.