REVIEW: Friction Burn at The Hope Theatre/ Camden Fringe 20 - 23 Aug 2023

An invigorating forty-five minutes that will have you smiling one minute and reflecting the next’ ★★★★

Toxic relationships have been one of the more popular themes explored at this year’s Camden Fringe but there haven’t been any that have approached it in quite the same absurdist and darkly comical manner as Friction Burn. A two-hander (well four, but more of that later) that spends the majority of the play with the characters’ heads in a noose is designed from the outset to stand out from its peers .

Before the production begins, the audience is already given some reference to the story that is about to unfold. A short silent film, shot in the style of a 1920s classic Hollywood movie, is projected on the wall as the theatre begins to fill. Its story means little at this point but sets the tone of what is to come; that everything is a little offbeat and strange. We are then introduced to S and H, the couple whose relationship we are about to delve into.

What Friction Burn does so well is that it takes complex relationship issues and simplifies them with the absurdist nature of the plot. S & H are both guilty of manipulation, jealousy and overall general toxic behaviour but to such an extreme that they are easily identifiable and entertaining to watch. Within the first ten minutes it is plainly obvious that this couple should not be with each other and yet at the same time we understand that they also can’t live without each other.

The intense conflict between both characters is supported by the strong performances from Lewis Maines, S, and Sophie Faurie, H. Maines provides the more clownish display, offering up some physical comedy and overall general sheepishness while Faurie, who also wrote the play, delivers most of the tension and drama. It’s a dynamic that works well, particularly when their characters become more physical with each other.

As mentioned previously, the cast can be considered double the size if we include the musicians on-stage. Gracie Brown and Edward Corbett provide live music throughout on violin and guitar in the form of a grungy folk soundtrack. For much of the play their music is almost at odds with the action on stage and this only elevates the absurd tones that director, Léah Bonaventura, is creating. It is extremely effective and a vital part of the production.

Faurie’s script is nicely varied and manages to maintain the tension throughout even through the more humorous sections. However, there are a couple of surreal moments which, while entertaining, seemed slightly disjointed. Whether the play needs them or whether it needs more of them is hard to say but their infrequency made them feel a little out of place.

Watching Friction Burn is like watching a boxing match between two lovers who feel guilty about punching each other but don’t want to stop. It’s an invigorating forty-five minutes that will have you smiling one minute and reflecting the next, which is likely to be what Bonaventura set out to achieve.

Friction Burn at The Hope Theatre 20 - 23 Aug

Precipice Theatre on Twitter: @Precipice_Th

Cast:

S - Lewis Maines

H - Sophie Faurie

Grace Brown

Edward Corbett

Writer: Sophie Faurie

Director: Léah Bonaventura

Cinematography: Alfie Ford

Music by: Grace Brown, Sophie Faurie, Edward Corbett

Reviewed by John Montgomery