Old Red Lion 8 March – 2 April. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
It’s Spring 2011, and as the UK prepares for the royal wedding, 16 year old Ben’s interest in the protests in Syria grows to dangerous proportions. His Syrian friend on X Box live has stopped contacting him, so Ben runs away to Syria to find him and help the anti-government cause.
Lucinda Burnett’s thoughtful and sympathetic portrayal of mental illness gives this story of unlikely friendship and politics an innocent sense of warmth and optimism. She has written characters that are easily recognisable and likeable in their flaws, and who respond to their situations in believable ways.
The set is simple, with a large circular structure centre stage acting as bed, seat, bush and anything else that’s required. As the audience settles, Ben (Joe Atwell) is seated on this holding his games console and playing one of those horrible warfare games. His conversations with Jibreel (Ali Ariaie) as they play are sweet and funny, with Jibreel just trying to improve his English and avoid thinking about what is going on around him in Deraa, and Ben becoming more and more curious about Syria. What begins as an interview for the school magazine soon escalates into an obsession for Ben and the use of lighting and sound – flashes and increasingly erratic and frantic rhythms – as his psychosis develops is cleverly done, never going too over the top.
Atwell gives a moving performance as Ben, beginning as a slightly geeky seeming lad and gradually showing the obsessive behaviour and delusions of his character with a subtle and unnerving touch. His scenes with bully Harriet (Jill McAusland) are wonderfully written and played – their bonding over his “mad” idea to bunk off to Syria evolves into touching, and terrifying, scenes in Syria when she finally realises that Ben is unwell and she tries hopelessly to help him. McAusland’s performance is feisty and funny, giving Harriet a blunt and accepting view towards her lot that is the complete opposite to Ben’s parents.
Joanna Croll and Mark Extance play the recently divorced parents with great humour. She is aware of Ben’s possible problems but cannot cope, and he is in complete denial – celebrating when he thinks Ben has finally rebelled! Croll‘s scene trying to leave phone messages for Ben is wistfully funny, she shows her helplessness and unconditional love for her child brilliantly and bravely.
The realistic approach to Ben’s recovery and treatment is a breath of fresh air – there may not be a happy ending, but the play ends with hope, for both Ben and Jibreel, and gives Ben the chance to finally help his friend.
Correspondence is well worth seeing – mental illness needs to be discussed and this play brings it into focus with heart and hope.