Reviews

Blink

| |

4 August 2012

On a green rug against a forest backdrop an enchanting love story unfolds in this new collaboration between Soho Theatre and Fringe First-winners nabokov.

Jonah (Harry McEntire) and Sophie (Rosie Wyatt) are both orphans of a sort. Rendered lonely by a combination of absent parents and introverted instincts they wind up as neighbours in Leytonstone where, following a surreal first encounter, they’re eventually brought together by a near-fatal accident.

From the acoustic soundscape to the off-beat characterisations, Phil Porter‘s two-hander has the whimsical air of a Daniel Kitson story show and the idiosyncratic humour of a Jason Reitman film.

It doesn’t always hit the mark. Longueurs creep in towards the end and there are some clunky plot twists, but nevertheless director Joe Murphy injects enough surprises to keep us guessing and Hannah Clark’s compartmentalised design is extremely neat.

But the final word belongs to the performances of McEntire and Wyatt. The roles fit each like a glove – never has a stalker seemed so charming or a coma victim so engaging – and both consolidate their reputations as young actors to watch.

Recommended viewing for those who like their romance served with a twist.