The Glass Supper
Hampstead Theatre (Downstairs)
Reviewed on Saturday 29th June 2014
Martyn Hesford's The Glass Supper is a fascinating play. At a glance the piece appears harmless but as the characters unravel The Glass Supper becomes a dark and adventurous play with few limitations. Marcus and Colin have moved to the countryside for a quieter life and all is going swimmingly until Steven, his considerably younger boyfriend Jamie and the show-stealing Wendy turn up for supper.
The cast are incredibly strong, bouncing off each other's energy effortlessly after only a handful of performances. A special mention must go to Alex Lawther who last year impressed critics with his career defining performance in South Downs (Chichester/West End). Here Lawther excels in a role which couldn't be more different.
As the only female in the cast, Michelle Collins (Wendy) bursts onto the stage and gives a performance you won't forget in a hurry! The play wouldn't work without Wendy as the character completely changes the dynamic each time she steps foot on stage. Fresh from her recent stint in Coronation Street, Collins reminds us she is also an excellent character actress, it is great to see her back on stage.
The audience’s response was extremely interesting, there were times when people weren’t sure whether they should laugh or feel concerned. I felt as if I was peering into the lives of these characters and although I never felt squashed (I love Hampstead's downstairs space), I almost felt too close for comfort - the experience was fantastic and I felt engaged throughout.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
The Glass Supper runs at the Hampstead Theatre (Downstairs) until Saturday 26th July 2014.
Please visit www.hampsteadtheatre.com for further information and tickets.
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