Review: THE PASS at The Pearly Queen Theatre

Some readers may be familiar with the 2016 film which starred Russell Tovey (whom I recently reviewed in The Guilty at Donmar Warehouse). Here, on a playing area which staggeringly looks a mere 5m X 5m, four cast members conjure scenes in three hotel rooms over a period of twelve years.

Jason and Ade (Ben Moxon and Josh Hitchman-Pinnock respectively) have grown up together at a football academy and are on the brink of Premiership club success. One goes on to sporting superstardom the other’s ambitions fade and he eventually starts his own plumbing business.

At the first hotel bedroom somewhere in Bulgaria, we find the two 17 year olds joshing and being laddish. The familiarity and unspoken homoeroticism that exists between them, is clouded by blokey chat about girls, beer and ambition, while the generous-spirited camaraderie is gradually eroded by the sour competitiveness which overtakes the pair.

Years later and we find Jason living the life of a successful sports star. He has brought a club pole dancer back to his Spanish hotel room, ostensibly for an unsanctioned play-away from the wife and two children back in the UK. Lyndsey (a beautifully timed turn from Eliza Shea) is brighter than most and has ulterior motives, but tables are turned repeatedly in a tussle of oneupmanship and assertion of dominance in the second scene of John Donnelly’s tautly written play, directed here by Glenn T. Griffin.

Lastly, and with Jason finally divorced and facing enforced retirement due to a recurring knee injury, he has invited Ade to join him at his London hotel room where they tiptoe around unspoken events in their past and involve an eager young hotel worker Harry (Charlie Hammerson) in drinking games. The pills and vodka blur the lines between attraction and loathing as they spar, come close to admissions of longing, and finally bottle-out of actioning their long hoped for coupling.

The small venue seats 40-60 depending on the production and is looking forward to scheduling a programme of events/shows. I for one wish them every success in developing the venue and growing a regular and supportive clientele.

For those considering paying a visit, THE PASS plays from 7.30pm - 10pm including a 20min interval and continues at The Pearly Queen Theatre (above the Bow Bells pub) until 3rd October.

Promotional artwork for The Pass at The Pearly Queen Theatre