Slippery

Performances by John McCrea (Daddy, Almeida; Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End) as Jude and Perry Williams (Player Kings, West End; Little Women, UK Tour) as Kyle are also key to why this piece is so satisfying to watch. The dialogue practically sizzles and the chemistry is obvious. McCrea as Jude holds his own, being able to capture both the witty and animated Jude and the more soft and hurt person behind the armour. Another fantastic performance by McCrea. This is equally matched by Williams who comes across as the more solid of the two. Kyle as a character is slower to warm up, to tell us all, rather preferring to check in and give acts of service. But he also has his own battles, worries and even crosses the line on his own morals now and again.

You could see how these two characters could have acted in the past, which now ten years on when we meet them is a real testament to both performances.

We need to talk about the flat. Design for Slippery was by Hannah Schmidt. The flat the pair cook in, run across in, argue and reconsider in seems simple but is efficient throughout. A kitchen where the pasta is made and eaten (also thrown). Lamps that shift and change and that important set of shelves, with trinkets and secrets. It feels lived in, messy but also a character in itself. Especially for Jude and his story development. We learn a lot about that character through his environment and it’s a real joy to see collaboration really working towards a common goal.