Review: ONE FOR SORROW, Royal Court

On a night of absolute destruction, paranoia runs rife. The capital is in chaos and the public sit in their home watching the terror unfold. Helicopters circle overhead, police sirens wail and the news channels talks about a city under siege. There are 45 dead and counting.

With a gig venue being occupied by potential bombers that number is set to increase dramatically. Cordelia Lynn's story domesticates this metropolitan situation, and places focus on how one family deal when faced with a crisis. The quartet's relationship is fractured enough, and it's only made worse by the arrival of the elusive John.

The parents welcome him, somewhat. They certainly don't trust him and definitely air on the side of insincerity. Their lack of warmth raises the environmental stakes; the pair may be acting like good people, but in reality they're only being hospitable because they don't want to be judged for seeming other.

John has responded to an invitation Imogen (Pearl Chanda) put out, saying that people in distress can seek refuge here. He enters in an oversized coat and refuses to take it off. We're unsure of his motives, and Irfan Shamji does well to not reveal too much about his character. It keeps the audience on their toes, as they never can work out what is around the corner.

James Macdonald's production is a well-crafted sensory experience, which takes you on an intense roller coaster of emotions. But in all this shade, there is a lot of light, and Lynn has made sure that the content isn't heavy all the time. There's enough dry humour to provide the correct contradiction to the overall gloom.

Lynn's thriller may seem dystopian, but in reality it doesn't seem too far from the truth. With the recent surge of horrific attacks on the western world happening, this scenario seems all too familiar.

Several blackouts and a delicious soundscape add to the production's intensity. It's not an easy watch, and the audience sit on tenterhooks unsure as to what will happen next.

One for Sorrow at the Royal Court until 11 August

Photo credit: Johan Persson

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