Queer retelling of a Simon Stephens two-hander.
What can you expect when you take an unexpected route late in life?
The Arcola Theatre’s new production of Simon Stephens’ play “Heisenberg”, which first debuted in 2015, takes a new spin on the two-hander by queering the original narrative. Taking place in the Arcola’s studio space, this intimate revival brings to life a bit of the magic of the original with much-needed fresh representation.
Upon taking your seats you are greeted by the presence of two solitary chairs – possible stand ins for the characters we are about to meet. Whilst sitting on a bench in a train station in London, Alex, played by Jenny Galloway, is jolted out of her reverie when Georgie, played by Faline England, kisses her on the back of the neck without permission. This unlikely interaction kickstarts the descent into an unexpected relationship that sees this unlikely couple growing closer and closer, all the while well-kept secrets are held close to home.
Galloway and England expertly take on these very distinct characters. England plays Georgie as an insufferable American woman in her 50s, loveable but at times grating on the ears – this is very much the point. Galloway’s portrayal of the 75-year-old butcher Alex is built in layers of subtextual nuance – a brilliantly evocative performance. The two together lead the audience through the subtleties of their lives, opening up small compartments in which we can nestle for a time before being ejected back into the harsh reality they live in.
This is a perfect example Stephens’ writing style in action. An uncanny character portrait of two souls who find each other despite the oddest of circumstances, he manages to weave their seperate storylines together in a deft fashion.
Although I believe more could have been done to bring the theatricality of the play to life. The pacing suffered at times as the action was not switched up often enough to maintain attention. As well, the sound design by Hugh Sheehan was oddly placed – used to create atmosphere for locations such as restaurants or train stations, the soundscapes provided instead grated on the ears as they seemed to rise and fall in volume for no reason, distracting from the text. While the lighting design by Rajiv Pattani was a bit too sparse for certain moments, and ill-fitting to the layout of the Arcola’s studio space.
All in all, “Heisenberg” is an enduring work by one of our great playwrights, brought to life by gender-bending that subtly reworks the powerful message of the play.