Review: Thanks For Having Me, King’s Head Theatre

At first glance, the top-level premise of Thanks For Having Me, ‘two mismatched friends go through misadventures whilst learning life lessons about romance’,sounds like a generic romcom template. However, the sharp script by Keelan Kember goes far beyond anything generic to deliver well rounded characters with arcs, thoughtful discussions on gender equality, and some rather unexpected plot developments.

The two male friends could not be more different in personality or their approaches to seeking fulfilment with the ladies in their lives, but each tries to convert the other to their way of thinking.  Cashel (also Kember) seeks a long-term commitment with a well-matched partner but is a neurotic hypochondriac with mild OCD; although this is played up for good comedy it never strains believability, and he has an endearing honesty. Honey (Fergus Foster) moves through as many short term flings as he can, although his moral code of respecting the ladies prevents him being unsympathetically sleezy. Honey’s latest partner, the friendly Maya (Elizabeth Green), introduces her headstrong friend Eloise (Charlotte Hayes-Jones) to Cashel. The men are surprised to find that they have more in common with the ladies that they’d anticipated which leads to unexpected lessons.

The dialogue and interactions are rapid fire at times, but director Monica Cox and producer Kit Bromovsky manage to keep a good balance between the fast comedic banter and slower emotional discussions. Smaller gestures showcase the familiarity between friends; Honey is very used to having to safeguard his drink from a speeding Cashel, and the two have a well-choreographed extended fist-bump. There are subtle goings-on in the background to keep an eye on; from meaningful shared looks to humorous physical gestures which supplement dialogue. Whilst the story is told from the point of view of the men, it is commendable that the ladies are fully written with their own agency and agendas; there is a positive debate on the double standards of society where women are judged harshly for behaviours celebrated in men.

The story takes place entirely in Honey’s apartment living room, with other rooms offstage, which allows for a fixed set with more detail, which reflect the background and methodology of its owner. The comfy sofa has easy access to a coffee table full of a variety of magazines; we can imagine Honey picking through these to find the one most suitable to impress each visitor.  There is a well-stocked drinks trolly to enable him to meet all conceivable tastes of his guests.  Unusually, there is a radiator, which plays a pivotal part in one of the most bizarre and hilarious scenes.

The costuming is well chosen to subtly reflect the initial personalities and evolving attitudes of the characters. The serious Cashel naturally starts off the most smartly dressed, perfectly matching up red socks with his red jumper in a subtle nod to his OCD, but as he becomes more relaxed and confident he wears looser shirts with buttons undone. The sly Honey seeks every advantage he can get, adapting up his appearance to impress whichever lady he is currently pursuing; when arranging to meet a model he tries to emulate one himself with sunglasses and very open shirt. The personalities and outfits of the ladies remain more consistent; Maya favouring flowing dresses and Eloise confidently wearing tight fitting outfits.

The cast engage together well, bringing their interplay to life through situations both humorous and dramatic, conveying the different viewpoints with conviction, and believably portraying personal growth. It is true to life that there is no ‘right’ approach to finding your happiness and people are allowed to change their minds either way.

Written by: Keelan Kember
Directed by: Monica Cox
Produced by: Kit Bromovsky

Thanks For Having Me plays at the Kings Head Theatre until the 8th February.