The Unbelievers

I am a big admirer of Nicola Walker, and in this particular play at the Royal Court she is Miriam, a mother grappling with the disappearance of her teenage son, Oscar.  The play ranges over a seven year period, dipping back and forward, with panic at the early stages, and as the police investigation remains unresolved, the whole family find different ways of living with the absence.  The Unbelievers in this case are the family who have lost faith that Oscar will return and are finding ways to move forward with their lives, whereas Miriam is fierce and obsessive about not giving up.  Things all come to a head when Oscar's dad (Paul Higgins) suggests holding a memorial service.

The staging is simple but effective with a soulless waiting room at the back where the cast go when they are not performing, presumably to represent the limbo the characters are all experiencing; meanwhile the main action takes place in the living room towards the front of the stage.  I think this is pretty effective, and although there were often fireworks going on at the front, it was interesting to see the people at the back, sometimes pacing around, sometimes sitting slumped in resignation.   

The play shows us myriad ways of dealing with loss and grief, but doesn't have any particular resolution and that's ok.  It’s also surprisingly funny in some places, particularly an awkward family party, which creates a bit of an uneven tone against the blinding misery and anger at other moments but I think that makes sense, grief can be like that.  Probably my favourite scene is where Miriam's oldest child, Nancy (Alby Baldwin), arranges a seance.  It's funny, but alongside you can almost touch Miriam’s visceral desperation and misery.  

The ending was a bit predictable but I can live with that - the point was still well made and the performances from all of the cast are great, all weaving around Walker's impressive performance.  This is one that I am still digesting - overall a pretty thought provoking evening. 

We had a seat in the back of the stalls this time, with a pretty good view. It's another play without an interval so people brought in their drinking supplies.   Although, annoyingly for a quiet play like this, people had trouble maintaining control, and so the atmosphere was regularly punctuated by people dropping glasses, cans and plastic cups, the sound  clattering down the auditorium.  The cast managed admirably, not even flinching when that glass hit the ground but it did take me out of the moment each time.