Marmite
The VAULTS Festival, 13th Feb - 17th Feb
It’s been over a year since I was introduced to the work of Limerence Productions via their impressive debut Ginger Beer at the Kings Head Theatre. My review for that production concluded by stating how much I looked "forward to seeing what they produce next", and so I was more than happy to discover they would be bringing their new play, Marmite to this years VAULT Festival, having already been exceptionally well received at last years Edinburgh Festival.
Marmite more than delivers on the potential that was clearly evident from the company’s first play, and is once again jointly written and directed by Phoebe Simmonds and Hallam Breen. It’s an often funny but heartfelt foray into a modern gay relationship where things begin to ‘go south’ when Eddie, 23 and Dylan, 21 confront the possibility of opening things up, the result of being asked by Eddie’s sister whether their relationship was exclusive or not. We’ve been here once already at this years VAULT Festival with Christopher Adams and Timothy Allsop’s aptly titled OPEN, but where as that couple eventually seemed to arrive on the same page in that true story presented by the couple themselves, here we find Eddie, (Ned Costello) only agreeing to try an open relationship for fear of loosing Dylan, (Theo Walker) and along with the guys they pick up to bring back to their flat come the cracks that begin to appear in their relationship.
Before we get to this central drive of the play however, we have already followed the journey from their first accidental meeting, (both escaping the separate, less than enjoyable first dates they are both already on), to eventually moving in together. Given the plays running time of 60 minutes, all this is required to happen at a pace, but it is with credit to this dynamic writing and directing duo that the heart of the play remains firmly intact, the audience still finding itself completely invested in the blossoming relationship, vignettes of well chosen moments showing the couple growing ever closer skilfully guiding us emotionally to where we need to be before the reality of bringing a third person into the relationship begins to dawn on Eddie.
The rhythms of the script are played wonderfully by the cast who I was surprised to learn differed from the Edinburgh production of the play (with the exception of the brilliant Rosanna Hitchen as Eddie’s sister). Whilst I can only assume that, to have warranted such positive reviews those original performances must have been on a par with the two male leads seen here, I simultaneously find it hard to imagine another two actors more perfectly cast in the roles of Eddie and Dylan than Walker and Costello. Whilst Walker portray’s the ‘very handsome’ Dylan with an innate sense of self-confidence, he never lets this slip into arrogance, remaining likeable with a hint of vulnerability bubbling just below the surface throughout. By contrast, confidence is not one of Dylans main attributes as Costello plays his character with a delightful, and often hilarious awkwardness. Whilst this could be in danger of becoming Costello’s stock in trade, his character in Ginger Beer I seem to remember being cut from a similar cloth, it is still a total pleasure to watch his engaging performance, which once again showcases his mastery of comic timing. Despite, on the surface, Eddie and Dylan's characters make them quite an odd couple, there is no doubt the audience is left hoping they can ultimately find a way to work things out.
Given that Marmite has become the short hand slang for something that people will either love or loathe, I am in no doubt that audiences will love this highly enjoyable second play from Limerence Productions, and I can only conclude by once again stating how much I am looking forward to seeing what Breen and Simmonds produce next. (No pressure!!)
★★★★
