"Good Work". Burton Taylor Studio. Review by Anuj Mishra

Theatre is filled with examples of the tortured, reclusive, and frankly weird persona of ‘the genius’ – both on and offstage. Good Work begins with one such genius in the form of a character, Felix (Eddie Jones). He sits at a table taking notes from a hefty stack of books, and his scholarly, hunched posture suggests that this is a regular pastime for him.

As the play gets going, Felix is joined by his flatmate, Zach (Charlie Lewis). The two are best friends to the point of brotherhood, and together they anxiously anticipate the arrival of Felix’s sister, George (Orla Wyatt), who is visiting from London. George’s entry sparks a sheen of congeniality, which quickly gives way to awkwardness and resentment as George reveals the true purpose of her visit: she comes bearing their father’s will and a mission to make Felix come back home to London.

Good Work, though just a three-hander, manages to crowd the small BT stage. The play is populated by three characters whose own confused identities rub against and spill over into one another to the point of chaos. Yes, Felix and Zach are friends, but Zach holds a connection with Felix’s father that outflanks Felix’s own. Felix is visibly a struggling writer, but he often alludes to a high-flying job in corporate law. Zach and George have something going on, but it seems almost incestuous given Zach’s ties to the family.

Burning slowly, Good Work takes up the task of sorting through these relationships, though at some points I wished that the characters would simply break the fourth wall and tell us who they are to one another. This slow-burn eventually pays off but resists any semblance of conclusion. The only moments of lucidity come, paradoxically, when characters monologue in poetry, baring their interior struggles for a snatch of time under glaring green light, before returning to the sepia-washed domestic drama at hand.

As Felix, Eddie Jones fantastically contorted himself under the weight of the character’s mental anguish, visibly buckling under this strain as the play tapered to its climax. Orla Wyatt perfectly delivered George’s fading semblance of confidence and conviviality, showing real versatility with the moment that George suddenly bares her cruel streak. With the role of Zach, Charlie Lewis did well to convey the character’s awkward position of being sandwiched into family life without any real claim to it.

At once anxiety-ridden and anxiety-inducing, Good Work (by Melinda Zhu) captures the hope and tragedy of leaving behind one’s place, peppering realism with some innovative aspects of literariness.

Good Work continues its run at the Burton Taylor until 8th March. Runtime of 1 hour and 10 minutes.

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