Review: RELICS, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
Sharply written by Ben Ockrent and seamlessly directed by Michael Longhurst, Relics is one of the strongest dark comedies to arrive on stage in recent memory.
The play opens with three siblings gathered in their childhood home as they await the arrival of their brother. Their mother has recently died, and they are there to clear the house before it is sold. Olivia (Sally Phillips), the eldest and her mother's primary carer, is emotional and seemingly on the verge of a breakdown. A nervous Rob (Sam Swainsbury) worries that the process might damage their already fragile relationships - a foreboding if ever there was one. Michelle (Charly Clive), the youngest and a primary school teacher, simply wants to get through the ordeal and is immediately suspicious of her brother Jonny (JJ Feild) when he finally arrives.
Ockrent's writing does an excellent job of establishing each character early on, making us invest in their triumphs, failures and everything that has brought them to this moment. On the surface, the premise feels familiar: a family brought together by loss. Beneath that, however, lurk secrets, lies and uncomfortable truths that threaten to unravel everything.
When it is revealed that Jonny has returned, not to help clear the house, but to retrieve a painting from his childhood bedroom (and more importantly, uncover its dark history and dubious origins), the family are faced with a dilemma. The painting could be worth millions, but selling it may come at the cost of their relationship with Olivia. Conflicting moral compasses and hidden personal circumstances keep the stakes high throughout. The play continually wrongfoots its audience, making it difficult to predict where events will land, even in its closing moments.
This emotional rollercoaster unfolds against Joanna Scotcher's brilliant set design. The house feels both nostalgic and dysfunctional, much like the family that inhabits it. The performances are outstanding, particularly from JJ Feild, who punctuates some of the play's darkest moments with exceptional physical comedy. The relationships between the siblings feel genuine and lived-in, creating the perfect canvas for Ockrent's sharp and often surprisingly moving writing.
What elevates Relics beyond a straightforward family drama is its willingness to sit in moral ambiguity. The play leaves us with big questions: Who are we when no one's watching? Are things ever truly black and white? And who do we choose to be when push comes to shove?
A brilliantly written dramedy that balances humour, grief and uncomfortable truths with remarkable skill. Like the family at its centre, it leaves us wrestling with questions that don't have easy answers.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: A.M.H
Relics plays at London’s Lyric Hammersmith Theatre until 18 July, with further info here.
