REVIEW: PAST TENTS by Seth Jones and David J. Keogh at Jack Studio Theatre 26 – 30 Sept 2023

‘hysterically funny … and check out those long pauses …’ ★★★★★

Whether campsites conjure up a loathsome experience or an absolute delight, you can be sure you’ve never experienced anything like this before (or have you). Alan, already at the end of his tether, crashes his car in an isolated place. Luckily, or unluckily for him, there is potential rescue, or at least a working mobile phone, at a campsite he stumbles across hosted by the unsavoury Virgil. Totally let down on the connection front, Alan is forced to rent-a-tent. Considering the lugubrious site, with its pile of … (is that really poo), and a sheep trap, and the upbeat David for a neighbour, his nightmare continues.

Written and performed by Seth Jones and David J Keogh, with a fine cameo role for Mark Keegan (as Virgil), this is one of the most bizarre and totally fulfilling plays of the year. Let’s leave the dubious script for a while and concentrate on the actors, self-directed by Jones, and their costume design by Keogh:   Hawaiian shirt and shorts; a onesie; an outfit that wouldn’t look out of place in Soho (do they have them in that size?) and a caterpillar sleeping bag - all in one show, hard to imagine? Too right, but I promise you that it all comes together in the end. That is largely thanks to the wonderful cast who know all about timing and long pauses, whilst as writers, Keogh and Jones understand the comic potential of frustrating and embarrassing situations.  It is also thanks to a cleverly constructed plot, and a spectacular and surprising ending, which audiences could not have predicted; unlike many elements of the plot, with a delicious sense of dramatic irony, almost panto like, we can see the disaster coming (the foot in the sheep trap and the episode with the biscuit tin).

Shoe-horned in there somewhere are the scenes of pathos and here the show is bringing its true mission to bear. The audience can hardly be aware that it is a show about suicide, depression, and the need to get things off your chest … the catharsis of a simple rant to someone who is actually listening. The relief of crying your heart out … and ‘heart’ features large in the play. Nevertheless, the message does land and the show does a fine job of making it painless, and free of any flag waving.

There is some masterful acting here, and the performer really look as though they’re having fun on stage, it’s playful, it’s outrageous, it’s courageous and it’s probably just as well that there is no interval. You have to watch the full play for the complete pay off. Audiences are leaving the venue chuckling and doubtless will never see a campsite the same way again, without being reminded of Alan, Justin and Virgil.

PAST TENTS by Seth Jones and David J. Keogh at Jack Studio Theatre 26 – 30 Sept and on tour

Presented by Stuck Productions

Tues 26th – Sat 30th September at 7.30pm

Box Office https://brockleyjack.co.uk/jackstudio-entry/past-tents/

Reviewed by Heather Jeffery