Review: AN INSTINCT at Old Red Lion Theatre

The world is just beginning to wake up to the daunting scale and transmission rates of a potentially deadly virus. Sound familiar? Former boyfriends Max (Connor Dumbrell) and Tom (Joe Walsham) make a dash for the countryside, landing at the remote cabin in the woods owned by Tom’s parents. The plan is to hunker down until the immediate danger has passed. Meanwhile, Max’s current partner Charlie (Ben Norris) has somehow managed to track them in his camper van and is watching at a distance to understand what has seemingly brought these two back together and whether it poses a real threat to his relationship.

Initially, the play’s quirky and even ludicrous premise offers inherently comic potential as the actors begin peeling their own character layers. Max is revealed to be a slightly scatty, panicked and ill-prepared individual. By contrast, Tom seems calm, well-informed and well-prepared. He has packed, brought provisions, tools (notably an axe) and protective clothing for those all important jaunts to the nearest supermarket (for when it isn’t being looted by local rampaging residents). They are as chalk and cheese and Tom is soon guiding and controlling Max’s approach to the situation in which they find themselves. As the weeks pass and the lack of clear outside information creates a tense environment, matters related to their break-up understandably begin to surface, together with the traits and behaviours which underpinned it. Charlie’s surprise arrival one afternoon for a showdown, leaves Max with serious matters to consider - not least whether the pandemic’s severity has been exaggerated by Tom as a ruse to win him back.

Perhaps the most surprising element for anyone watching the performance who hasn’t previously read the synopsis, is that things soon get very dark. Themes which surface, include bullying and manipulation through guilt. The play is littered throughout with genuinely uncomfortable moments, including one jump out of your seat fright, the response to which must have greatly pleased Director Lucy Foster on opening night.

In an age of instant and incessantly intrusive communication, the play reminds us that it wasn’t always so, and perhaps how little it would take to return to such times. If AN INSTINCT is anything to go by, humanity appears ill-equipped to cope in the event we find ourselves forced to return to the technological dark ages. As for the strength of our ability to deal with the emotional fall-out which would accompany such enforced isolation and reduced connectivity, this play cleverly paints a bleak and potentially stark warning about our dependencies and broader survival instincts.

Continues until 6th December.