Sunday, 15 February 2015

'Contact.com' Park Theatre **

Does a fifteen year marriage require a younger couple to reignite the sexual spark, in the expectation that their marriage can survive? The Park Theatre’s production of Michael Kingsbury’s, ‘Contact.com’ lacked an immense level of full entertainment value, and the performances were monotonously disappointing.

‘Contact.com’ is set in a sumptuous Islington home where Naomi, a managing director for a charity, and her husband, Matthew, a psychiatrist are currently waiting for the arrival of a younger couple who have answered an advertisement for some sexual flirtation to re-energise their love for each other. We are introduced to Ryan, an entrepreneur and his girlfriend, Kelly, and unemployed woman who appear to be hiding some secrets from Naomi and Matthew. At first, there is an essence of awkwardness when they are eating a scrumptious dinner, prepared and cooked by Naomi, and the relieve the tension, they begin to seduce one another, verbally, as well as communicating on what each person does for a living, and also their hobbies. Once they commence the fundamental aims to why they are doing this slightly strange method of sexual intercourse, they are fondling the other person, who is fact not their partner, it appears that Matthew and Kelly give the impression that they are enjoying the experience.  Moreover, Naomi and Ryan look like a woman and her toy boy, and it seems that the outcomes are working successfully. However, the cracks begin to become visible as Naomi is concerned as her husband is neglecting her all the time as Matthew is revelling in his experiences with a younger female model, but Naomi, even though she has relished in her practices with the brawny Ryan, she is desperate for Kelly and Ryan to leave their humble abode. Near the finale, Matthew and Naomi are informed of Kelly and Ryan’s deception as they have taken money from Matthew under false pretences.  Kingsbury’s narrative is particularly uninteresting as a number of moments left me enormously bored and by the end of the first act, one was ready to walk out of the auditorium.

One found the performances by the company of, ‘Contact.com’ was deficient in humour and enthralling elements. Charlie Brooks is droning as Kelly; especially her vocal work that lack any grace of pace and pitch whatsoever and her facial expressions were far too melodramatic and poorly fascinating to watch. Jason Durr is brutally shameful as Matthew; explicitly when he goes on to express his desire to allow their visitors to physically move into the upper floor in their house, which Naomi disproves of entirely. Ralph Aiken is shockingly awful as the handsome, Ryan; principally when he endeavours to seduce Naomi in probably the most tender way she’s not had in a while, furthermore, his emotional captivity lacked tenacity.  


Ian Brown’s direction is phenomenally dreary here as he has not been able to fully encapsulate how couples are interesting in a little fun can work within a theatrical atmosphere, and the characterisations were not that compelling and thoroughly rehearsed either.  Janet Bird’s design was mediocre as there never feels that charismatic in terms of how it’s supposed to emulate a calm and warming Islington residence. Quite appalling to be truthful.  Overall, one found the experience of ‘Contact.com’ to be not enjoyable and would not be a recommendation from one’s opinion. 

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