Review: LEAVES OF GLASS, Park Theatre

Photo credit: Mark Senior

For the first time in 16 years, Philip Ridley’s Leaves of Glass returns to London, currently playing in the more intimate 90-seater space at the Park Theatre. Now regarded as a modern classic, for someone unfamiliar to the piece, this production by Lidless Theatre and Zoe Weldon in association with the Park and Theatre Deli proves exactly why this is fact.

Performed in the round, Kit Hinchcliffe’s set is sparse, consisting of only four black benches atop a reflective floor, boxed in by LED rope light, but cleverly allowing Ridley’s writing and the performances on it to pull focus. The play centres on brothers, Steven and Barry, and their personal and alternative responses to grief and trauma.

Alex Lewer’s lighting is predominantly naturalistic but between scenes, uses the near darkness as a tool. The sound design by Sam Glossop also helps build tension, with all creative elements working harmoniously.

Running at 1 hour 45 minutes without an interval, it’s slightly lengthy for a one-act play but the steadily building intensity across its duration keeps you more than gripped. Max Harrison’s direction of the piece and its four-strong cast is faultless. Ned Costello’s Steven is onstage for the entire piece with the other three characters (brother Barry, wife Debbie and mum Liz) coming in and out of the playing space and aiding with subtle setting changes.

Businessman Steven immediately portrays himself as the strong, successful, reliable son, in comparison to the flighty Barry who has struggled with alcoholism and keeping a job down. When demons from the past begin to rear their ugly head, the family dynamic begins to spin on its axis as they delve into traumatic past events, of which both brothers have very differing recollections about what happened. What is clever is that Ridley never once says explicitly what happened but, as an audience, you are left to fill in the gaps.

The arc of Steven’s character is performed exceptionally by Ned Costello who remains onstage for the show’s duration. His chemistry with Joseph Potter (as Barry) is faultless, with their strained relationship and love for one another on a constant see-saw. Potter is such a clever, nuanced actor who has phenomenal awareness of every playing factor around him. His slight manic-ness against Costello’s relative calm and seemingly stoic demeanour provides the perfect contrast.

Costello and Potter’s performances are strongly anchored by the female characters in the piece. Debbie and Liz (Katie Buchholz and Kacey Ainsworth respectively) give added depth to the story, swirling around the brothers’ turmoil and giving further perceptions of a situation. As such, everything comes together seamlessly to create a thrilling, tense and heartbreaking production.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Jenny Ell

Leaves of Glass plays at the Park Theatre until 3 June, with further information here.