Mojo

Mojo is the play that brought playwright Jez Butterworth (author of Jerusalem) his first major success. Set in a Soho nightclub in 1958, to the backdrop of the emergence of Rock ‘n’ Roll, it follows six men who are faced with the murder of their boss. What follows is a brutal power struggle between them as they try to decide what to do.
 

This is an incredibly difficult play to produce. Butterworth leaves many questions unanswered and some of the plot unclear, so the success of a production hangs almost entirely on the direction and performances to sustain  tension and atmosphere. The story is fast paced and often confusing, yet this production is slick, powerful and controlled; hitting hard when it needs to, and pulling back at exactly the right moments. The comic timing is brilliant, particularly from James Corrigan and Rhys Bevan, and the terrifyingly manic performance from Joe Eyre is captivating.

The Monkey House at Zoo is a space with the audience on three sides; fully immersed in the action. Many directors are scared to use the space to it’s full potential, but Matt Maltby pitches the naturalistic elements of the script perfectly in his staging, with everything feeling so real that the audience can’t help but be sucked in. Nothing feels staged or acted; the characters are utterly convincing.

This is a very professional production, with strong performances all round, and direction that creates an electric atmosphere in the theatre. The text itself lacks clarity in certain areas, almost to an irritating extent, but Acorn Productions’ take on Mojo is punchy, exciting and captivating; a genuinely powerful piece of theatre.

– Chris Wheeler