Photo credit: Madeleine Bloxham
Act of God tells the story of Jack, who has been sent to a therapy-through-poetry course to work through a traumatic incident that is deeply buried beneath sarcasm, humour, and fear of what happens if we truly confront ourselves with our actions.
The therapist (portrayed by Lucy Blott) certainly has unconventional methods, arguably unethical if you compare it to other therapeutic methods employed today. Despite that, they are clearly a perfect therapist-client fit, as Jack opens up surprisingly quickly under her guidance; still, the heavy-hitting revelations are well placed as to not give too much away too soon. As such, the show is well paced and keeps the audience engaged throughout its 60-minute duration.
The character of Jack (written and portrayed by Jacob O’Connor), despite his very dark sides, manages to dodge stereotypical tropes of emotionally stunted men on many occasions, a pleasant surprise in today’s climate. Although he naturally has many walls that need breaking down, we get a beautifully earnest and rich insight into his mind. An artist performing their own writing onstage is risky, and a challenge that is often underestimated. However, it is nearly impossible to imagine anyone else playing Jack but O’Connor himself. He shares the most vulnerable and darkest moments of the character so generously with the audience, without neglecting his playful side.
Blott balances out this duo beautifully, seamlessly shifting between roles. She offers two distinct characterisations: the witty but grounded therapist and the playful and gentle Sofie. The mystery around Sofie's character, like who she is and what really happened in their last encounter, would surely confuse an audience; but Blott plays the characters with remarkable precision and clarity, letting the audience uncover the mystery without them getting lost. Together, they have great chemistry and create the type of magic that happens when you have two actors onstage that are truly in the moment: acting with and reacting to each other in real time.
The play repeats scenes in different variations, but no single line is the same. No matter how many times a line is repeated, it feels entirely new each time. As much as this is a testament to both actors, it is also thanks to the writing. The play is beautifully written: the dialogue flows naturally, and the structure is smartly constructed from a dramaturgical standpoint. Where the play really shines is through its poetry. Jack’s poems reflect where he is at in his therapy journey, supporting the structure of the play nicely.
Act of God is a masterclass in acting and storytelling, and the commitment and passion of the creatives and actors is a wonderful gift to the audience. We hope this show lives on beyond its run at Riverside. Its impact on the audience certainly will.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Ophelia Fellhauer
Act of God plays at London’s Riverside Studios until 26 November, with further info here.
