Informed Consent

Informed Consent
Jermyn Street Theatre
Running Dates: 6th October – 25th October

Reviewed by Rachel Sheridan for Whatsonstage.com

Four separate stories all collide as the people involved become unwittingly tangled in each others lives. A taxi driver, Battle (Anton Stephans) wonders aimlessly up and down hospital corridors while his daughter lays in intensive care waiting for a new heart. Meanwhile Dom (Brett Goldstein) and Katya’s (Eugenia Caruso) young son is involved in a road accident which leaves him brain dead. A surgeon Mandl (Will Chitty) and his on off girlfriend nurse Ellen (Susan Bracken) are looking after both these cases, however Mandl is somewhat distracted by the presence of a lonely drag queen, Shirley (Charlie Holloway) who “grants favours” on the streets of New York.

You might say this sounds like another episode of E.R and you wouldn’t be far off the mark. As your attention is divided between these various plotlines you can feel yourself edging towards the predictable point of collision between all these characters.

The only thing that reminds us we are not watching another TV hospital drama is the constant presence of a somewhat distracting radio station at the edge of the action as various actors take turns to play the DJ’s on different stations. Predominantly the radio is Battle’s lifeline to the outside world but also it demonstrates how all the characters are connected as they tune into the same station in their very different circumstances.

It is no surprise to see that director, Mirra Bank has worked a great deal in film and television but her style unfortunately does not translate onto stage. Without the advantage of differing angles and quick cuts between the actors the play struggles with pace and is lacking in urgency. Whilst the clumsy overuse of overlapping lines, rather than feel realistic makes it difficult to follow the thread of a conversation.

However the cast turn in very fine performances. Stephan’s performance is incredibly touching as the loner who’s practically become a ghost on these hospital corridors. Holloway gives a beautifully understated portrayal of this lost drag queen, resisting the temptation to camp it up. Chitty (the George Clooney of the play) and Bracken have fantastic chemistry as they struggle with their feelings towards one another amongst all this anguish and Goldstein and Caruso are heartbreaking as two parents, destroyed by the loss of their boy.

Yet despite these moving performances, I felt detached from their stories. The heart of the play is great with potentially very moving stories. It just needs a little bit of work to get it pumping properly.