A satirical dark comedy which explores taking justice into the hands of the people.
How far would you go to right a wrong? Can two wrongs make a right? The world is full of people who have committed acts which they ought not to have committed, and the internet is full of people who want them punished. We have all seen it, in the comments sections and all over Twitter. People are angry and thirsty for justice. Has something you’ve seen online ever sparked those feelings in you? I know that I’ve felt it at times. But how far do you have to go before you become the bad guy?
Snowflakes, written by Robert Boulton, debuted in the Old Red Lion in 2021, and will now play at Park Theatre until 6th May. Taking inspiration from Inside No. 9 and Black Mirror, Boulton combines dark comedy, horror and satire into an examination of cancel culture, morality, and taking justice to an extreme extent. It is a script designed to spark debate, and to really get the audience to think.
Marcus (Robert Boulton, the writer himself) and Sarah (Louise Hoare) work for a start-up company dealing in death. Delivering the results that the comments sections are calling for, they dole out punishment to those who have allegedly committed heinous crimes. The duo live-stream their trials, during which the public can vote on an app to decide the course of punishment: does the perpetrator live or die?
As Marcus, Boulton is charismatic, darkly comical and compelling. He has a steadiness about him that exudes danger. Hoare flits between energetic and held, with a deeply expressive face and emotive demeanour she serves the complexity of her character well. There’s a captivating energy between Boulton and Hoare which is extremely watchable, even throughout the more addled parts of the narrative.
The play begins as Marcus and Sarah burst in on Tony (Henry Davis), a famous writer who has awoken from a heavy night of drinking. The pair swiftly knock Tony back unconscious, and then proceed to chat about their purpose on the job. We learn that it’s Sarah’s first mission. A young woman eager to impress, she started at the bottom and climbed the ranks. Marcus, her teacher for the day, is a seasoned assassin. Boastful, and confident, he takes joy in his work. Sarah gets to it, setting up the space, pulling an assortment of weapons from boxes. Here Boulton’s writing sets us up for what is to come. We are yet to dive into the story, but characters are established and the witty dialogue makes it an easy watch. It’s interesting, though not entirely gripping.
When Tony re-awakens the action truly begins. He is accused of an unpunished crime against an unnamed woman. We are launched into the trial. It’s what you might expect: interrogation, accusation, defence. Davis brings depth to his character and does have some truly brilliant moments in the play, but I didn’t quite believe he feared for his life. Perhaps this was due to directorial choices or writing that was heavy on exposition.
A live stream from an on-stage camera projects Tony’s frustrated face onto a backdrop of blinds above the hotel bed, an effective choice which immerses the audience in the story. The fight scenes have promise, though they are a little hit-and-miss (I could clearly see the punches didn’t land, but with a thrust stage you’re bound to get this from some angles).
There are several plot-twists toward the end of the play, I won’t go into detail – there were moments I genuinely didn’t see coming, and I’d rather not give you spoilers. I will say though that they complicate things a little, and the storyline becomes cloudy. It’s almost like Boulton is trying to fit too much into the second act.
Darkly entertaining and provocative, if a little convoluted at times, Snowflakes adds to the ongoing discussion of social media and cancel culture. In a world which seems to be heading toward the dystopian day by day this is an interesting and relative piece of theatre which will leave you questioning your morals.