Review: Toothpaste and Cigars, Lion & Unicorn Theatre

Camden Fringe

Toothpaste and Cigars is a romantic comedy about unrequited love; a simple premise we can all relate to. Wallace meets Chantry at a party and sparks fly. She is witty, intelligent, cultured and they have similar tastes. The only problem is, she has a boyfriend. What follows charts a relationship that skirts the boundary between friendship and romance.

Despite a script containing many Americanisms – from crunching potato chips, to sprinkle on hot dogs, to cotton candy – and a setting in the pre-smart phone era where much of Wallace and Chantry’s relationship takes place via email and a desktop-based instant messenger, this premise feels fresh and relevant because the emotional journey of the characters transcends everything. This is a story that has happened time and again all over the world, yet is still specific enough to feel genuine.

Well-established romcom themes are explored. The characters meet their ideal partner at the wrong time, there are hidden depths and unspoken romantic tensions in their relationship, and Chantry’s unexpected departure pushes Wallace to confront his feelings. These tropes are used to convey the evolution of the pair’s relationship in a way that has strong emotional resonance due to their ubiquity in pop culture and their universal accessibility: many of us have experienced these emotions.

The entire focus is on the two actors and all other aspects, from props to lighting, sparsely serve the performances. The plot is minimalistic to give space to develop the intricacies of Chantry and Wallace’s relationship. This is done effectively and makes the drama more believable.

Tarini Tiwari and Thomas George, have great chemistry and deliver the naturalistic dialogue so convincingly that it’s like looking into a window on their private world. Their comic timing provides warmth and humour, especially during fast-paced scenes of rapid-fire dialogue.

There is some hesitation in delivery from George at times, and the complex back-and-forth dialogue needs more rehearsal, although this is largely covered by Wallace’s insecurities and writing that reflects the natural rhythms of speech.

The sharp script has many hilarious comic beats and well-deployed references, from the films of Charlie Chaplin and Woody Allen to Catch-22, Elvis and The Iliad. These specifics, and the distinctive mannerisms the performers give their roles, bring the two characters to life. Repeated references and looping back to past beats create a rhythm for the story and the humour.

As well as being funny, the tale is poignant. The sadness comes from the universally relatable feeling of a missed connection and the life that could have been. I feel like I know Chantry and Wallace well, as I watch them go through familiar experiences that I strongly relate to.

This all builds to an ambiguous ending, cleverly foreshadowed through an earlier discussion of the ending of Chaplin’s film City Lights. The very prosaic climax is perfectly suited to a story about the humour and drama that comes from the minutiae of everyday life.

This is a funny and powerfully moving study of an unusual friendship, shot through with romantic tension. Through humour and subtle personal moments, Toothpaste and Cigars tells a story of events that has doubtless happened all over the world and throughout time, but with enough specificity to be unique.

Written by: TJ Dawe and Michael Rinaldi

Adapted by: Tarini Tiwari and Thomas George

Directed by: Thomas George and Tarini Tiwari

Toothpaste and Cigars is playing at Lion & Unicorn Theatre until 21st August. Further information and booking are available here.