TheatreguideLondon
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The TheatreguideLondon Review
Ingredient X
Royal Court Theatre Summer 2010
Did you know that the X Factor and particularly Danni Minogue are
rabidly anti-Welsh? That, at least, is the theory of Deanne, one of
four characters, all of whom are deeply affected by every kind of
addiction under the sun, in Nick Grosso's first play at the Royal Court
in eight years.
The writer has clearly set out to explore the nature of addiction and
its impact, not only on addicts themselves, but also their loved ones.
What could be grim viewing turns out to be highly amusing, primarily
because the characters that he creates are both believable and
frequently amusing.
Strangely, the calmest of the four protagonists is blocked writer
Frank, played by James Lance, hosting an X Factor night in his
luxurious pine-floored kitchen. He is a recovering addict who still
relies heavily upon group support sessions but genuinely seems to have
straightened himself out.
On the night in question, Frank's equanimity is sorely tested by a trio
of women with dark, red and blonde hair who might easily be christened
the Witches of North London.
Each member of this quartet has been devastatingly affected by
addiction, both their own and that of friends and relations. Frank's
wife Katie, played by Indira Varma, has spent her whole life rescuing
addicts and as such, has become addicted to the type. She is also
mother to baby Bubba, so sweet that the mention of his name is enough
to get the women to dissolve into ahhs.
It is the other pairing that really give life to the party. Deanne
(Lisa Palfrey) is the mother of troubled teens and can only
protect herself by taking just one more drink (about 20 times). She
knows that she doesn't have a drink problem but only after she is
blotto.
Her best friend Lesley Sharp's terrifying Rosanna uses words as if they
were going out of fashion, launching constant tirades throughout the
evening, often when attacked about her junkie ex-husband.
Nick Grosso can, at times, labour his points a little too much. Even
so, he has written an entertaining and thought-provoking play that
really addresses the contemporary issue of addiction to everything from
drink and drugs to video games, the Internet and even, dare one say it,
Reality TV shows like the X Factor.
Philip Fisher
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Review - Ingredient X - Royal Court 2010
