Review: Starfish, Bread and Roses Theatre

Most of us like to think of ourselves as good people.  We donate to charities, express concerns about social injustice and want to believe we would help someone in genuine need.  Starfish, by Richard Fitchett,  asks what happens when that moral responsibility arrives not as something abstract but as a real person.

It’s a powerful idea that resonated deeply with me: a homeless man, Eric (Peter Saracen), unexpectedly lets himself into the home of Tim (Ed Jobling) and Cheryl (Emma Riches), a well-meaning young middle-class couple (both teachers) who financially support homelessness charities. When confronted with this reality, however, their discomfort, hesitations and unspoken prejudices reveal themselves with uncomfortable clarity.   It’s fertile ground for some interesting drama. 

For me, the star of this play is the writing.  It is mostly thoughtful and humane, with some gentle humour and a good deal of pathos and empathy.  The starfish metaphor (no spoilers here, go see it!) helps frame the action elegantly, while characters are measured by their reaction to ABBA, The Nolans and Kelly Marie like some kind of litmus paper.  As an ex-teacher, an ABBA fan, and someone who supports homelessness charities, I certainly felt very seen in this play.  As Eric slowly transforms the young couple’s home, moving away from the sterility of magnolia (and their desire to keep their home saleable for new owners at some point) to the almost psychedelic clutter of seventies decor, we are invited to consider what the true value of a home is and what a home is really for.  

The storyline itself is intriguing and layered, exploring both the ethics of giving and the self-image of those who believe themselves generous, and the aforementioned metaphors add thought-provoking layers.  Nevertheless, the ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying. Without revealing spoilers, the final beat is uncomfortable and, given the stakes set out in the exposition of the piece, incredibly callous. A somewhat obvious confession that elicited empathy in the audience results in an uncompromising hardening of perspectives from the young couple.  Through his script, Fitchett manages to shift his audience’s thinking through a solid 90 minutes of robust drama, but he seems less able to move his central characters. 

Peter Saracen’s performance as Eric is the strongest of the night. He brings genuine vulnerability and tenderness to the role, particularly in the second half when his character reflects on his past over a powerful off-stage voiceover.  His range elevates the material and gives the story emotional shape.

Riches and Jobling give lively, serviceable performances, but their characters feel underdrawn and under-inhabited, a bit like opposing arguments in a University debate rather than real people.  Tim remains pompous and self-absorbed while Cheryl is stubbornly cheerful and well-meaning. Their trajectories do not shift enough to feel satisfying or dramatically complete. A late change in Cheryl’s perspective feels oddly trivial given the complexity of the themes and what is at stake. 

Lisa Minichiello as Karin is a welcome presence. First mentioned only as an irritating friend of Cheryl, she ultimately becomes a pragmatic mirror, reflecting the uncomfortable truth the couple would rather ignore. Her clarity cuts through the play’s moral fog with refreshing bluntness.
Starfish is a thoughtful and entertaining piece with some strong performances at its core and a premise full of potential.  It will likely resonate with audiences in its Clapham setting, where questions about homelessness and social responsibility hit close to home.

Written & Produced by Richard Fitchett
Directed by Lucy Appleby
Lighting & Sound by Kimber Wright

Starfish plays at the Bread and Roses Theatre until Saturday 15 November.