A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewAn Intervention
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"I messaged some of your friends. . . and the subject of Hannah came up, and they were very honest and the fact is, they hate her too, they think she's terrible and I'm only telling you this because I love you." — A |
Rachel Stirling as A and John Hollingworth as B (Photo: Kevin Cummins) |
In five scenes, A (Rachel Stirling) and B (John Hollingworth) meet and analyse what their friendship means. The opening scene is called Harmonica and in it the woman wants to know why the man didn't come on the march against the government's decision to send troops to the Middle East, the first intervention of the title. Her repeated tune is like a few notes on the harmonica, repeated. They have known each other for three years but it's funny, isn't it, how we like our friends to agree with us politically, how important this is to us? They quarrel.
Two things emerge from the first scene which will mar the relationship between A and B and develop as the play goes on. One is A's drinking and the other is B's new girlfriend Hannah. Their personalities are explored, A's bubbly, spontaneous personality with her extremes of metaphor, "It's like playing tennis with a fucking postbox," on his lack of intervention in their conversation, his lack of contribution, his reticence. Later scenes see him more involved with Hannah, whom we never meet, as he lives with her and they have a child together. In the final scene he will choose to intervene in A's life in a crucial way.
An Intervention looks at the tensions of a platonic friendship between a man and a woman. There is a beautiful performance from Rachel Stirling as the volatile young woman with an effervescent personality and an intensity, as she self medicates with alcohol. John Hollingworth's character is more troubled, introspective, withdrawn, reflective. It is a parent-child relationship with B's solid, disapproving parent to A's irresponsible, free child. The friendship between them is not expressed sexually, although A is undoubtedly jealous of Hannah, but in terms of conversation and recalling shared experiences.
The final scene has surprises I won't reveal here for fear of spoiling them, but with a deliciously dark humour. The very comfortable Watford Palace Theatre space may be a little large for this intense play with its minimalist set.
This is one of Mike Bartlett's more intimate plays at just 80 minutes without an interval, with a slow but involving burn, as you think about who these characters really are and whether their opposites complement or conflict each other.
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| An Intervention
Written by Mike Bartlett Directed by James Grieve Starring: Rachel Stirling, John Hollingworth Designed by Lucy Osborne Sound: Tom Gibbons Lighting: David Holmes Running time: One hour 20 minutes with no interval Box Office: 01923 225671 Booking to 3rd May 2014 Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 22nd April 2014 performance at the Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JZ (Rail: Watford Junction and a ten minute walk) |
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