Rose Theatre, Kingston-Upon-Thames – until 19 October 2019
Reviewed by Alexandra Sykes
4****
If you have ever wondered what goes on in the invitation only clubs of the elite universities, this is the play for you. Written by Laura Wade, Posh tells the story of the 10 members of the fictional Riot Club, an exclusive club at Oxford University, who meet once a term for a meal and to have fun. Having been disbanded for two terms due to an incident that ended up in newspapers, the boys are determined to still have fun but live up to the club’s reputation.
With the Riot Club banned from meeting in certain places, the boys book a room in a pub claiming to be a young entrepreneurs club so as to avoid detection. With all 10 members once again reunited both Dimitri (Jamie Littlewood) and Guy (Adam Mirsky) both announce their plans to run for president once current president James (Chris Born) graduates. As the evening goes on, and with many toasts along the way, the boys become louder and eventually the pub landlord asks them to leave as they are disturbing another party. The boys pay for the other guests and the landlord takes the money. When a prostitute (Ellie Nunn) refuses to do what the boys ask, they kick off and trash the place. After a fight with the landlord, the club decide on only one of them has to go to prison, meaning he will be kicked out of the university and the club in the process. Due to being seen as the instigator of the fight, Alistair (Tyger Drew-Honey) is offered up as the scapegoat so the others go free. A few weeks after the incident Alistair meets with Jeremey, a former Riot Club member and Guy’s godfather, and offers Alistair a job and says the other boys will take care of him in the future.
The set is basic, a pub dining room which the boys hire out, but the space is used well, with no areas of the stage being unused. Due to the boys attending a meal, a large table is used but the actors do not have their backs to the audience, they sit sideways on. The costumes are impressive, with the Riot Club members wearing tail coats and waistcoats to show that they are the Oxford elite.
All in all a good play although the language used by some of the characters makes you think again, especially with the swearing. Drew-Honey is amazing in the role of Alistair and really makes the others think about the predicament they are in. Although not suitable for younger audiences this play is a good night out and worth a visit.