Pleasance Courtyard Bunker Two
A play that explores how far a jealous painter will go to get glory. summary
Rating
Excellent
The contrasting perceptions of war heroism and cowardice are examined in this 70-minute gritty drama. Wesley (Jack Stokes), a young shellshocked soldier has returned home and is in need of a job. After his mother submits his art portfolio to Mr Lupine (Lee Bainbridge), he goes to the studio for an interview, where dark secrets are revealed.
Bainbridge is brilliantly sleazy, creepy and jealous as Lupine and as the play goes on, the full extent of his sinister nature is revealed. He is a man who’s never made anything of himself and therefore has nothing to lose. Yet the extent of how far he’ll go to feel important – and leave his mark – is frightening.
The abuse of power slowly becomes apparent when Lupine uses calculating and manipulative techniques. The uncomfortable and uneasy tension weighs heavy in the room as Lupine intermittently laughs at Wesley’s jokes, only to abruptly stop and question his intentions. He also pretends to have burned Wesley’s sketchbook just to gauge a reaction out of him. Lupine tells Wesley it was a test, but as it turns out, he really did.
From where I was sitting, I couldn’t see Stokes’s face for the first half of the show, and I feel that I missed some key moments by not being able to catch his facial expressions as the drama was unfolding. However, during the second half, as Stokes began moving around the stage more, I could fully appreciate his impressive acting. His ability to convey a range of emotions, which are believably heartbreaking to watch, is outstanding.
The intimate setting of the Pleasance Courtyard’s Bunker Two is perfect for the play. A large blank canvas stands at the back of the room, with a rug and old wooden desk containing hidden surprises in the drawers. A decanter with a small amount of cognac is positioned nearby. Encouraged by Lupine, Wesley keeps drinking glasses of it, but surprisingly is never drunk.
This dark and tense play is enthralling to watch. The emotional journey offers a unique perspective on the war effort. With expert acting from both Bainbridge and Stokes, I will be thinking about this show for a while to come.
Written and directed by: Philip Stokes
Set, Sound, and Lighting Design by: Craig Lomas
Shellshocked runs at Pleasance Courtyard’s Bunker Two until 26 August. Further information and tickets can be found here.
