Review: THE WASP, Southwark Playhouse Borough
Photo credit: Ross Kernahan
At some point, most of us have googled an old school friend to see what they're currently doing, particularly those with whom we've lost touch. Through the magic of social media, our curiosity can be satisfied by the likes of Facebook and LinkedIn. From a safe distance, we learn something about their lives, either through a series of pictures or a summary of their career to date. But what happens if they randomly make contact out of the blue? This two-hander, written by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, considers this scenario and how the politics of the playground will sometimes come back to haunt us.
Heather (Cassandra Hercules) is a well-groomed career woman married to Simon. Carla (Serin Ibrahim) is an earthy mother of four with another on the way. Street wise but world weary, she wonders why her old school friend has suddenly made contact after 20 years. She notices how much her appearance has changed, but what lies underneath this seemingly cool facade? Over coffee, they slowly circle each other. Heather and Carla seem like polar opposites, but still share a common bond formed in a fractured childhood. Old alliances soon come to light as they discuss a proposition.
The Wasp is literally a play of two halves. Act 1 is a slow burning, almost ponderous scene setting exercise that shows little in the way of a clear narrative. The characters' motivation is presented but barely feels credible. There is, however, enough to keep the audience engaged. But Act 2 positively explodes into life and throws the plot in various directions. We discover both characters are multi-layered and have real depth. The unseen third member of the cast, 'Simon', is cleverly given a persona by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, and is much more than just a 'him indoors' character. A deliciously twisted plot is the reward for a slow Act 1 that will constantly surprise the audience. It soon morphs into a highly polished psychological thriller.
One possible downside is the tendency to repeat key scenes from a different perspective. This doesn't do the narrative any favours and stops the plot from building any real momentum. Having said that, the eventual change in gears more than compensates for a period of unnecessary reflection. Cassandra Hercules and Serin Ibrahim are excellent in their respective roles and portray sharply drawn characters with real aplomb. In storytelling parlance, the ‘payoff’ is infinitely more satisfying than the ‘setup’ but it’s well worth the wait.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Brian Penn
The Wasp plays at London’s Southwark Playhouse Borough until 30 May, with further info here.
