This play, by American Zach Helm, opens with video screen clips about the role of canaries in mines (warning of toxic gas) and quotes from Humanist psychologist Carl Rogers on the need for humans to self-actualise. I wondered whether it was going to be my kind of play.
However, the story – focusing on a successful new novel writer and his young addict wife – had me gripped from the start. The play took us through the full spectrum of emotions – there was laughter, embarrassment, sadness and horror. It was relentless.
The staging is creative – furniture glides on and off stage on hidden tracks. Three large panels move back and forth to receive projections of apartment interiors, city skylines, information about the effects of amphetamines, domestic chore lists, psychedelic art and drug-induced hallucinations. The music, which is sometimes loud, underscores the drama. There was a great scene where multiple frantic telephone calls were portrayed by the actors moving in a circle.
The script is crisp and witty – with many memorable lines (“Threw a drink at someone – while it was still in the glass” and “Nobody buys speed in bulk”) and deep insight into tortured souls. Some of the topics – addiction and sexual abuse – made it difficult to watch, but they were tackled with a forthright frankness, skilled acting and a lot of swearing. The plot twists and ending were unexpected.
The star of the show was undoubtedly Freya Mavor in the lead as wife Annie. Her lean figure was utterly convincing as a manic addict who is strong yet scared, emotionally fragile yet hell-bent on self-destruction. Some of her scenes were astonishing and will remain burned into my memory.
Harry Lloyd put in a solid performance as devoted and despairing husband Jack. And there were great comic turns by Ilan Goodman as Jeff the drug dealer with a conscience and Simon Wilson as Mulholland the literary critic.
Despite the difficult subject-matter, I suspect the play will become a classic.
The Good Canary runs until 8th October https://www.rosetheatrekingston.org/whats-on/good-canary
