The Marlowe Theatre brings Melissa Bubonic’s Beached to the Soho Theatre, and whilst
it proves entertaining and thought-provoking, it is not quite probing enough to
leave much of a lasting impression. The show’s information on the programme
states “but with the cameras
rolling, something totally unexpected happens - Arty falls in love”. So it’s not all that
unexpected then.
Arty is the world’s fattest teenager at sixty-seven stone, played charmingly by James
Dryden. He hasn’t moved in years, and
is piling on the pounds. A reality TV crew move in and document his journey
towards getting a gastric bypass. Along the way, he falls in love, and
discovers a few uncomfortable truths.
After a slow first half hour, Arty’s relationship with his Pathways to Work Officer,
Louise, begins to blossom. Dryden’s
gradual transition into a more confident man is touching, and he connects with
Alison O’Donnell’s Louise well. Meanwhile, Robin Weaver shows a wonderfully
maternal JoJo, Arty’s mother. Arty learns
that his mother has been sabotaging his weight-loss, but it’s a shame that more isn’t made of the break-up in their
relationship, especially after following it for so long.
The reality TV show context feels slightly
uncomfortably shoehorned, almost a distraction and an excuse for an extra
character. The implications of reality TV that are portrayed are cliched and
superficial. Rhoda Ofori-Attah provides some moving moments as the Producer,
but it generally feels a little jarring - the piece hints at media manipulation,
but it’s so slight that it’s sadly not really worth being there.
Justin Audibert’s direction brings out the comedy well whilst retaining the
seriousness of the script, and it manages the multi-rolling well. What the
piece lacks is gravitas. It scratches the surface of a number of real issues,
but fails to explore them enough to make it worthwhile.
Rating: ★★★
Beached runs at the Soho Theatre until 23rd November 2014
