REVIEW: OFFROADING by Lucy Linger at Old Red Lion Theatre 3 – 14 September 2024

‘Gently humorous and romantic, this play raises difficult questions which some young couples have to face’. ★★★

A gently humorous piece of writing which explores what happens when a relationship is put under pressure. Welshman Steve (Owen Frost), who is rather comfortable and homely, falls in love with the unpredictable Jane (Elise Verney). 

The first act concentrates on their burgeoning friendship and the slow realisation that they are more than just pals.  It is pleasing to watch their romance develop but as the programme mentions that the writer was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29, we are kept in suspense for that event to happen, and it does in the second act. We are thrown in at the deep end.  Whilst what happens to Jane’s breasts is glossed over, the drama concentrates on the possibility that the treatment might leave her infertile, so should she have her eggs frozen, or should she consider having embryos frozen?

The drama is successful on many levels and certainly bravely forges ahead with a massive question for any relationship in its earlier stages. Are they both confident enough to make a baby together or should Jane wait and not rush into such a serious commitment. This is the crux of the play, and this is cleverly shown in an appealing story.  However, for me, at least, the play felt a little flat. Potentially it could be devasting, but it never quite reaches dramatic heights.  This is no fault of the actors, with Owen Frost having a good sense of comedy timing and Elise Verney offering a natural sense of rapport. They have a lovely presence on stage, something like a warm embrace.  There is a lost opportunity to highlight their acute differences which might add more interest to the play. 

There is already some contrast between them, as Jane often goes travelling (the offroading of the title) without involving Steve in her decisions, whilst Steve still lives with his parents. Their backstories really bolster their lifestyle choices quite neatly. However, there are class differences which are not being utilised.   Jane said to Steve, that he is ‘so middle class’ and she works at the Legion, suggesting that she’s working class. However, she’s from Surrey and her accent seems quite RP, which suggests something else, so that is an underdeveloped aspect of the play. It might have given the show a little more underlying conflict to play with. Lighting and sound could also be utilised rather more as the set, a pub interior and a sofa, is rather unremarkable.   The actors have a lot of work to do, and they do work really hard.

Writer Lucy Linger clearly has talent, and she’s also bravely directed this play. I assume that it is Linger who has made the decision that Jane should turn up in a series of hippy style outfits. They are gorgeous, if a little overdone, after all this isn’t a costume drama, but nevertheless, I did enjoy the fashion show.

REVIEW: OFFROADING by Lucy Linger at Old Red Lion Theatre 3 – 14 September 2024

Box Office: https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/offroading.html

Cast:

Jane – Elise Verney

Steve – Owen Frost

Producer:

Jessica Zingher