Pay as you go – Cock Tavern Theatre, London

Writer: Steven Hevey

Director: Samuel Miller

Reviewer: Evelyn Downing

The Public Reviews Rating:

Finally a play that lives up to its pedigree!

Pay as you go is bold, edgy piece of theatre, set in contemporary Southend-on-Sea and following the story of Mark, co-owner of a mobile phone shop, married man, father and friend. We watch as his life slowly unravels, laying bare his past, his choices and the kind of man he is and wants to be.

For me this was a play about communication, perspective and the choices we all make. How many of us have been in a situation where the person you are with is checking their phone continually, always waiting for that text, that other person, the better offer, rather than being in the moment with you? Or sent a text and received no reply? This play questions the value and quality of communication in a way that resonates and makes us think without ever feeling didactic or awkward. There are many incredibly clever moments that bring home how actions, both as small as an unkind word or as large as a marriage, can be perceived differently if seen from different points of view; is Mark attacking or protecting a girl at a bus stop? It depends on how you view it.

I was very impressed with the script, written by Steven Hevey, graduate of the Royal Court and Soho Theatre Young Writers schemes. The dialogue is natural and flowing and the story unravels at just the right rate. This has been brought to life by some great direction on a simple set, fantastic lighting and sound effects (we loved the flickering television lights) and a very strong cast. Marc Geoffrey as Mark captures the fall into despair brilliantly, supported throughout by Helen Worsley as his wife. Daniel Jennings and Richard Aloi as co-workers and 40 year old lads-about-town Richard and Simon manage to capture the delicate balance between delivering humorous lines and allowing the audience to laugh without undermining the story. The eight actors all give very strong performances, handling the doubling of roles very well.

Director Samuel Miller has brought out the best in this play; the actors come and go from different exits and entrances, the table and chairs become a bus stop, a bar, a shop, a living room, keeping the pace up through the short scenes. I also particularly liked the sound design, mobile phone ringtones weaving through the music very cleverly, flowing into the hubbub of a bar scene seamlessly, keeping the energy up at all times.

It was a joy to watch such a wonderfully constructed, coherent piece of theatre that knew what it wanted to say and said it brilliantly. If I had any criticism it would be that overall the play was maybe 5 minutes too long with one too many characters and could have ended before the last scene, but that is as much to do with the seating as the story. The pub theatre location suits the play however, with the noise of Kilburn High Road occasionally breaking into the theatre, emphasizing the urban setting. If you enjoy new writing that is engaging and entertaining and has something to say about our world you will love Pay as you go. Go see it.