That Face

A whirlwind of privilege & familial disarray, Polly Stenham’s "That Face" unveils the turmoil within an affluent family, wracked by addiction, divorce & apathy. Josh Seymour’s deft direction & the captivating portrayals by a distinguished cast are immersive; like the slow-burning tension in Joseph Conrad’s #HeartOfDarkness or #Coppala’s adaptation, "Apocalypse Now," the play propels you into a claustrophobic world spiralling into chaos at the Orange Tree Theatre 😵

The performances by Niamh Cusack as Martha & Kasper Hilton-Hille as Henry, in particular, oscillate skillfully between raw vulnerability & profound despair, presenting a haunting tableau of familial decay🥀

The play reveals the disintegration of the family primarily through Martha’s obsessive relationship with her son, Henry, and her neglectful attitude towards her daughter, Mia (Ruby Stokes), who has been expelled from boarding school. This chaos is further fueled by an estranged father, Hugh (Dominic Mafham), whose disconnect from the family’s issues leads to blunt-force attempts to “tidy” the inconvenient mess🧐🧹

The minimal yet poignant set design by Eleanor Bull add to the suffocating setting, especially the symbolic bed, a site of tension, control & intimacy, and a frame within which the characters’ simmering conflicts are laid bare 🛏️🎭

However, the narrative occasionally seems to skim the surface with Hugh’s character not fully fleshed out, reducing him to an archetype of a distant father. The lack of clear spatial definition within some scenes also makes certain moments in the play less coherent…

It is the uncanny closeness between mother & son that leaves the most lasting imprint. In its uncensored depiction of familial disintegration, "That Face" explores the harrowing lengths to which individuals go to preserve a semblance of (even toxic) connection…

Despite teetering on the brink of soap opera-style melodrama at times, "That Face" is stirring & impactful, the performances poignant, and the directorial execution meticulous. Ending with a lingering sense of unresolved tension & emotional exhaustion, it is truly a marathon for both cast & audience😮‍💨 4/5⭐

📷Johan Persson

#londontheatre