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An acting masterclass! Nicola Walker and Stephen Mangan are a long-time married couple who are now considering bringing a third person into their relationship. The premise is an interesting one, and Walker and Mangan take us through the stages of titillation, apprehension and negotiation with a humour and humanity that is both touching and challenging. They expose their characters' façades and vulnerabilities in a manner which is always engaging. Matching these two virtuoso performances and managing to hold her own when playing against this talented duo, Erin Doherty, as the wise-beyond-her-years "unicorn," also definitely deserves plaudits. She creates an intriguing and believable character. Mike Bartlett has written a play which explores a controversial and complex subject with extraordinary wit and insight. However, there are so many pithy remarks and sharp aphorisms delivered so quickly that one often doesn't have enough time to consider them. In fact, these people may be just too smart; their dialogue is so well honed it becomes less than believable. Yes, she is a poet/teacher and he is a doctor and their love interest is a grad student, but still, there is a cerebral approach to their situation which starts to seem artificial. There is a sense that we are being schooled, not just about the complexity of relationships, but about a great many topics. This didacticism somewhat undermines the organic nature of the trio's affair, and makes one question whether there is really much passion in this amorous project. These people, who are being compelled, at least in part, by their libidos to embark on an erotic adventure, seem to live almost exclusively in their heads. The two acts of the play also display a somewhat odd imbalance. We spend the first act watching the threesome vacillate about entering this ménage, and then the second act runs through the rest of their lives, which are full of incident, at an almost breakneck pace. Despite these caveats however, Bartlett has written a thoroughly thought-provoking piece about marital malaise that many, perhaps uncomfortably, will recognise. He also manages to make some fascinating and funny points about aging in general, the generation gap and the current political situation. Plus, all of this is presented by three actors who are absolutely at the top of their game. Unicorn offers a unique theatrical experience!
Rated: ★★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Marc Brenner
When, Where, Getting there:
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