Curtain call - all the players take their bows
Chris Chibnall’s new play ‘One Last Push’
The play opens with soon-to-be parents Jen (Laura Main) and Mark (Sam Alexander) planning for a home birth. Jen is trying to be calm and pragmatic while Mark declares himself a failure of a father before the birth has even taken place.
As the play unfolds, the sentiment of needing a supportive family during childbirth becomes very clear. We meet Jen’s mother, budding doula and silver surfer, Eileen (Sherry Baines), and Mark's absent-since-birth father Dave (James Gaddas).
Dave is now ‘helping’ to renovate the expecting couple's new flat, but is instead doing some rather dodgy DIY. Then we meet Dave’s much younger girlfriend Alize (Valerie Antwi) who arrives to what she thinks is a baby shower with a bottle of pink fizz for the expectant mother.
Suddenly, their upstairs neighbour Paul (David Partridge) appears and causes far more chaos than he is worth when trying to catch a badger in their garden. He pulls out a gun and shoots several holes in Jen’s birthing pool which leads us to see them try and plug the holes with chewing gum before giving up and using their limbs. The action progressively becomes more facial; there are errant floorboards, collapsing shelves, a fallen down wall, and more water than you could imagine. How they continue to deliver such fast-paced comedy whilst essentially swimming on the stage is something to be in awe of.
The cast are all seasoned actors who know their stagecraft; timing and expression by all six is impeccable and Salisbury’s artistic director Gareth Machin’s direction is exemplary.
Simon Kenny’s set depicts a chaotic, lived-in, ground-floor flat that was part of a once grand house. To the side of the stage are two, large smartphone screens which are used varying throughout the show, but particularly for Eileen who tries her hand at Instagram live and is dedicated to her daily BeReal (which is taken live every night!). A novel addition, however, they sometimes do take away from the action on the stage.
When asked what advice her character (Jen) would give to her, Laura Main replied:
“To know your mind and trust your instincts. That’s something I’d wished I had done more in real life, she (Jen) kind of takes control of a room, she is quite feisty,”
Jen is often adorned with a broom or a hose during the play, woe betide to anyone who dares upset her!
One Last Push is a real reminder of what theatre can achieve with only one or two jokes that left the audience groaning rather than laughing.
4.5 STARS
At Salisbury Playhouse until 9th March.
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