My first visit to the White Bear Theatre in Kennington, which has been operational since 1988, will not be my last.
Last night, I caught a performance of Brian Coyle’s play The Box, presented by Mixed Up Theatre and directed by Jonathan Woolf and receiving its London premiere.
Tom (Martin Edwards) and Kate (Sarah Lawrie) are drinking wine in an anonymous room. In the middle of that room is a large box, wooden, wrapped in colourful paper.
We are not sure, yet, who they are or what the significance of the box is. And perhaps it doesn’t matter.
At first they play with each other’s identities and status as a couple, a game that feels a bit Last Tango in Paris with the anonymous promise of casual sex, no strings.
But that’s not the whole story. These two do know each other, and the box represents a moment in their lives they find it hard to talk about.
Coyle’s script is economical but powerful, finding humour in the shorthand of relationships while drawing strong depictions of characters who only exist off-stage. The Box runs for an hour, which passes quickly.
Simon Beyer’s sound and lighting design brings this small theatre space to life, welcoming us as uneasy voyeurs and eavesdroppers to what unfolds as a heartbreaking breach of trust.
Lawrie gives a moving and visceral performance as a woman in grief and crisis, whether struggling to find an outfit to go out in, complaining about the quality of the wine, or seeking a moment of revenge.
It is a depiction of all the stages of grief in one, especially effective when recounting moments where we see what we want to see.
Edwards is more guarded with his words and emotions, but you completely accept these two as participants in their own tragedy, however unwilling.
There are moments which require utter and complete trust between the actors, and with few props other than the box, a rack of clothes, and a shelf unit, we have a black and white playground to focus our attention.
Moments when words aren’t sufficient are communicated through touch or action, however hopeless and unguarded those moments may be.
The Box is a play that shows the aftermath an event that could happen to anyone. It is dark but not depressing. I recommend it.
****
The Box continues at the White Bear until 3 Aug with tickets here.