Review: PEOPLE PLACES & THINGS, Bristol Old Vic

People in the grip of an addiction can be difficult to watch but hard to look away from, and so it proves in People Places & Things now on tour after a successful West End stint. Watching the self destructive Emma pull herself apart in order to put herself back together makes for compulsive viewing.

What writer Duncan Macmillan manages in this extraordinary story of one woman's journey through rehab is not to fall into meaningless clichés. Nor does he shy away from the reality that addicts are unpleasant to live with.

Emma is instantly dislikeable - she treats her Mum appallingly, is arrogant and self absorbed. She equally has no time for another people in recovery. There's little to root for initially. Lisa Dwyer Hogg does a magnificent job of not just playing the symptoms - the hand wringing and the distant gaze but giving Emma real unpredictability.

You feel entirely absorbed in Emma's journey as the layers peel away. The revelations have the effect of drawing you in, yet as often is the case with people in this situation, you're left wondering what is true and what is not.

The pulsating set and sound design are a constant reminder of the pain of withdrawal and the ability of people to snap. Director Jeremy Herrin creates stomach churning visceral images of the rattle as Emma comes down. Multiple versions of herself climb the walls in agony.

In fellow addict Mark, Emma finds something of a friend, mentor and enemy all rolled into one. It's not Mark's first time at the clinic and his advice isn't always welcomed. Andrew Sheridan gives Mark his temper but it's a temper he is trying to control.

Matilda Ziegler gives a restrained performance as the doctor. She captures perfectly the mix of professionalism with her patients with the fact she has seen it all before and perhaps the pattern is getting a little bit boring.

The white tiled box set feels every inch the clinical environment for recovery. Bunny Christie shows once again why she has a reputation for being one of the hottest designers around. The set hides all it's ingenious capabilities as it continues to surprise without resorting to gimmicks.

This is not a run of the mill 'everything's going to be ok' story. It's one that endeavours to show the path to recovery is anything but straight. As someone graduates from the clinic, the doctor says "don't come back". And by the end, despite where you started, you're left hoping Emma doesn't.

People Places & Things at the Bristol Old Vic until 28 October

Photo credit: Johan Persson

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