Controversial subject material, usually surprising, all laced with humour have grow to be the hallmarks of Belfast-born, Glasgow-based playwright David Ireland’s work.
The topic this time is the highway to sobriety by way of Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12 Step Program. The fifth step of the title, often known as “confession” the place one “admits to God, to oneself and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs”.
The story that unfolds over a number of months between sponsor James (Sean Gilder) and Luka (Jack Lowden) is extra advanced than that. The energy dynamics, manipulation, motivations, the co-dependency between alcoholic and sponsor are all examined. Flawed male relationships and the shortage of optimistic function fashions for thus many trendy, younger males is laid naked. The efficacy of the one dimension suits all, laborious and quick guidelines of AA are introduced into focus and the portrayal of a extra ‘real’ AA expertise is dissected subtly below a veneer of frank speak and humour. As are the difficulties when actual life and actual failings and flawed human beings enter into the equation. Oh, and Robert De Niro, Willem Dafoe and Elton John all characteristic within the combine.
Perspectives shift and tables flip all through, and partitions, each actually and metaphorically come down on Milla Clarke’s extremely efficient, revolving field set that takes us from nameless AA assembly room to café, to park bench, to health club to hospital.
The ebb and circulate of the dialogue is naturalistic and Lowden is magnetic and luxurious because the jittery younger alcoholic. Gilder too delivers a wonderfully measured efficiency because the (on the floor) extra reasoned James.
In The Fifth Step, David Ireland delivers one other highly effective, thought-provoking and really, very humorous play. More please.
Runs till 31 August 2024 |Main Image: Simon Murphy/ Production Images: Mihaela Bodlovic
