Review: THE SPOILS, Trafalgar Studios, June 2 2016

Comedian Jesse Eisenberg is the latest American star to bring a production to London's West End. Originally an Off-Broadway show, The Spoils, which was penned by and stars Eisenberg, marks Eisenberg's West End debut and features two new British actors who join the original trio, making this a brilliantly funny play.

Eisenberg plays Ben, a spoilt rich kid whose life begins to spiral when he is kicked out of NYU's Film School. Living in a rent-free apartment, thanks to his father, he spends most of his time sitting at home, smoking weed and generally making the lives of his poor, unsuspecting housemate Kalyan (The Big Bang Theory's Kunal Nayyar) and Kalyan's girlfriend Reshma (Annapurna Sriram) a nightmare. Despite being the only person to stand by Ben's side and champion his efforts to turn his life around, Kalyan bears the brunt of Ben's self-pity.

When Ben discovers that old school friend Ted (Alfie Allen) is engaged to Sarah (Olivier winner Katie Brayben), another childhood friend with whom Ben is infatuated, he makes it his mission to tell her how much he loves her in the hopes she'll leave her fiancé. There are no means to which he won't go in order to convince Sarah that she needs to be with him - and the moment he tells Sarah about an erotic dream he had about her when they were young is so excruciatingly cringe-worthy, many audience members were only able to watch through their fingers.

The cast are a force to be reckoned with, their chemistry onstage makes the plot all the more believable. Nayyar is outstanding as Ben's sweet-natured and loyal punching bag Kalyan, his constant references to his Nepalese backgrounds and obsession with PowerPoint presentations make him all the more endearing. Allen excels in his West End debut as a naïve Wall Street Trader, while Brayben portrays Sarah with a kind-hearted and patient manner.

Ben could be the character we all love to hate, but Eisenberg plays him with such vulnerability and desperation that even when he openly manipulates his friends, the audience cant help but feel a pang of sympathy for an otherwise loathsome person. Although not for everyone, The Spoils will resonate with a wide audience who will not leave disappointed.

Photo Credit: Oliver Rosser