The Dog Walker, Jermyn Street Theatre - ★★★★ - Until March 7, 2020


The Dog Walker introduces us to two quite fascinating characters. At first, Keri Levin (Victoria Yeates) seems to be simply a wonderfully eccentric writer and Herbert Doakes (Andrew Dennis) is a whimsically conscientious dog walker. Their relationship begins in a hailstorm of hilarious one-liners but gradually we see the darker side of Keri. Her brittle and sometimes cruel humour is the product of a grief and self-loathing that is made manifest in the chaos of her flat and her inability to leave it. Doakes also lives a more complex life than we first recognise. He is held together by his adherence to traditional frameworks of religion and responsibility, but he is beset by emotional challenges. The question becomes whether these two can touch each other and whether Doakes' compassion can lead Keri back into the world. Victoria Yeates is quite amazing as Keri. She moves from appealing to appalling in a heartbeat and beautifully captures the vulnerability and protective carapace of her character. Andrew Dennis is equally strong in a role that demands considerable subtlety as his two dimensional persona is exposed and the complexity of Doakes' real inner life is explored. Both performances are outstanding and well supported by the deft direction of Harry Burton and Isabella Van Braeckel's convincing New York set. We'd highly recommend The Dog Walker for a laughter-filled and thought provoking night out.

 Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Robert Workman.
 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆ 

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 WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until March 7, 2020
Mon - Sat: 7:30 pm, Tue & Sat: 3:30 pm
Jermyn Street Theatre
Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus
https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/the-dog-walker/
Map & Location: 16B Jermyn St, St. James's, London SW1Y 6ST, UK

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