Review: JAB, Park Theatre
Photo credit: Steve Gregson
It doesn’t seem possible that the first Covid lockdown was imposed exactly five years ago. To some, it belongs to a different time and space. For many, it changed their lives forever as loved ones were lost under the worst possible circumstances. Others are still living with the effects of long Covid and the collateral damage of isolation. We all remember the three word buzz phrases: wash-your-hands, stay-at-home, save-the-NHS. Those pesky masks and the two metre prohibition that left us shouting at each other from a distance. This play by James McDermott explores the relationship of a couple during lockdown. How will they cope just having each other for company; could it be the time they spent apart actually kept them together?
It's March 2020 and the Covid virus is sweeping inexorably west from China. The UK goes into lockdown as the virus finally hits her shores. Anne (Kacey Ainsworth) is an NHS administrator working from home. Husband Don (Liam Tobin) runs a vintage goods shop that's forced to close. Once the novelty of being at home wears off, the cracks begin to show in their marriage. Anne cannot abide Don's laziness or the thought of his business grinding to a halt. Don is frustrated by Anne's lack of affection as her job slowly consumes her. Anne is at the forefront of rolling out a new vaccine. She is desperate for Don to have the new jab, but he is worried about the side effects.
Jab is a perceptive and highly literate study of the pandemic and ably demonstrates the human cost of a global tragedy. The intimate surroundings of the Park 90 lends itself well to the claustrophobia caused by the pandemic. Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo from Eastenders) and fellow soap veteran Liam Tobin show great chemistry in their respective roles. Covid broke the rhythm of everyday life and put people in close proximity, so it’s easy to identify with the couple as they are forced to confront issues normally obscured by routine. The sense of fear and paranoia gradually tightens the atmosphere as subtle but distinctive news reports in the background trace the history of Covid. Like so many two-handers, we wonder how it might look in a much bigger setting. Especially if it featured the characters that are confined to the script. Nevertheless, this a soundly written and acted play that ticks the right boxes.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Brian Penn
Jab plays at London’s Park Theatre until 26 April, with further info here.
