A lot of laughs on a wing and a prayer Rating
Good
After a night of passion unlike anything she has experienced before, Mary (Lauren Lyle) walks out of the shower in a Travelodge in Edinburgh. Waiting for her is her one-night stand, American tourist Mike (Alexander Arnold), who is delighted by a bucket of KFC – which he has somehow never heard of before.
Most Favoured was originally presented as a staged reading back in 2012 at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Dream Plays (Scenes From a Play I’ll Never Write) series. It had a full staging the following year, and now, over a decade later, it finally debuts in London.
It’s a fun evening with a load of laughs as you’d expect from author David Ireland. It is quite a bit lighter than much of his recent work which has played London, there isn’t a massive level of intensity and Ireland’s normal social commentary is really dialled back. It does still dive into some themes of loneliness and faith but there isn’t a huge amount of depth, and it prefers to bring the laughs to the front. It’s not particularly confrontational for the audience so don’t come in expecting the weight of The Fifth Step or Cyprus Avenue.
There is of course a revelation. It is one worth sitting for, not reading in a review. It’s played and developed really well. What could seem absurd, well actually it does seem absurd, moves us a little away from a straightforward comedy and adds a little more depth, a search for meaning. Director Max Elton handles this with ease, the pacing is great, the story and the laughs zipping along but then when a moment, when a breath is needed, there is space left.
Played out entirely in a single hotel bedroom, the set embraces its own anonymity. This is a transient space – just a bed for the night, nothing permanent can be expected. Ceci Calf’s design captures that generic transience perfectly, but, at the very end, the set shifts ever so slightly. Working with Amy Daniels’ lighting, the room becomes something less anonymous and far more suggestive, a smart change adding a lovely layer on top.
Lyle’s Mary is endearing; it’s really sweet to watch her build up the courage to talk to Mike, to admit her feelings to him. As these feelings become somewhat more unusual and intense, Lyle treads a fine line to keep us endeared by Mary. Arnold nails a complete level of detachment, so uninterested in anything Mary has to say and his constant wish to be reunited with his KFC is played hilariously. A beautiful woman tells him it was the best night of her life and all he can do is glance longingly at his bucket of chicken wings. Arnold’s deadpan approach lands brilliantly, bringing repeated laughs. The two play really well off each other, the contrasts in their characters, their very different energies feed each other and keep us laughing throughout.
Beneath the laughs, Most Favoured is a gentle exploration of connections and beliefs. It’s a slight evening but still a tasty morsel (or should that be tasty wing?) served up with Ireland’s sly wit and a divine cast. You might head out afterwards searching for a connection in the night, or you might just find yourself wondering where the nearest KFC is. Either way, you’ll head out with a smile on your face.
Written by David Ireland
Directed by Max Elton
Set and Costume Design by Ceci Calf
Lighting Design by Amy Daniels
Most Favoured plays at the Soho Theatre until Saturday 24 January 2026.
