Foxsmith’s writing is meticulous indeed, matched by Christopher Hone’s detailed design, but perhaps a little too careful here. Much time is spent constructing character and a fully-fleshed world for them to inhabit, leaving little time for drama to unfold effectively. Dan Parr’s Jim rattles through a quarter-life-crisis though David Crellin is fantastic as Sam’s troubles mount up to cause a psychotic break. And one can see the care taken to show the difficulty and delicacy of these two men being emotionally honest with each other.
But for a play set in the grime of the countryside talking about such graft, Shanahan’s production doesn’t quite have enough grit, enough earthiness to truly ground Foxsmith’s writing. The intimate space of the Finborough doesn’t really allow for much of the expansive physicality of working with animals, a bracing sequence of horse running aside, and it occasionally gets too wrapped up in realism (the mimed animal feed, the countless other props) where its strengths seem to lie in a starker symbolism, especially in the swells of Seth Rook Williams’ lighting.
And ultimately, as symbolic as Jim’s white t-shirt is - pristine throughout as a subconscious reflection of how committed he really is to this change - it’s also indicative of a production that needs to be less afraid to get its hands dirty.
Running time: 75 minutes (without interval)
Photos: Alex Brenner
Booking until 27th February