REVIEW: THE PURSUIT OF JOY at Jermyn Street Theatre (Footprints Festival) 16 – 27 January 2024

“The Pursuit of Joy feels warm and upbeat which is refreshing in the current climate” ★★★

Safaa Benson-Effiom’s The Pursuit of Joy kicked off the second week of Jermyn Street Theatre’s Footprints Festival with an enjoyable adventure where three strangers travel together through South America and discover more about themselves through their companionship and journey with each other. The play tackles some deeper themes which get diluted along the way due to how they are delivered but the likeable cast, dialogue and setting provide an overall pleasant experience.

Having arrived in Peru on the same flight, Iona, Joan and Ardel acquaint themselves as they wait for their bus to take them to their first destination. All three characters have distinct personalities to the point where it would be unlikely they would meet under different circumstances. It is this combination which makes the play so intriguing, allowing each character to learn from each other and ultimately unlock their secrets and grow as the story progresses.

The characters' personalities wouldn’t have quite the same impact without three strong performances to highlight them and Antonia Layiwola, Tia Dunn and Razak Osman don’t disappoint. Layiwola’s Iona is one filled with nervous energy and anxiety providing the heart of the play, Joan’s vivacity and positivity, perfectly embodied by Dunn, are what brings the group together and Osman manages to find the ideal balance between selfishness and selflessness that makes Ardel so amiable.

The performances are aided by some well written dialogue from Benson-Effiom which explores the flaws of each character in ways which are understanding and redeemable. The topics of anxiety and grief are tackled with sensitivity and lightheartedness which ensures that the ever present humour in the play never seems out of place. It's a little unfortunate that she decided to use voiceovers and flashbacks as a way of bringing these flaws to the forefront as the standard of the acting and her writing could have accomplished this in a more subtle and rewarding way.

The play also loses some rhythm by focusing on each character’s situation one at a time instead of concurrently. The journey essentially is split into three separate story arcs which not only diminishes the tension but also lessens the pay-off of each of them, as we are quickly drawn into the next. That being said, the overall story is closed out well and provides a satisfying conclusion to the adventure.

Under the direction of Brigitte Adela, the play cleverly creates the feel of the different destinations we encounter on a minimalist stage using a few props and some distinctive sounds and lighting. Along with some simple and effective transitions, crucially these create a definite sense of travel which is core to the storytelling and the enjoyment of the overall piece.

The Pursuit of Joy feels warm and upbeat which is refreshing in the current climate (in both a world and meteorological sense!). And while there are some aspects which could be improved to make it a more rounded play, there are enough elements that are executed skilfully to make this a worthwhile watch.

Box Office: https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/the-pursuit-of-joy/

Writer: Safaa Benson-Effiom

Director: Brigitte Adela

Cast

Iona: Antonia Layiwola

Joan: Tia Dunn

Ardel: Razak Osman

Reviewed by John Montgomery