The Arc – a trilogy of new Jewish plays. Soho Theatre, 1 Dean Street, London W!D to 26th August 2024.

4****: William Russell.

Funny, full of insights into the human condition, splendidly performed with a stand out turn from Nigel Planer as a man called Godfrey, Birth by Amy Rosenthal, Marriage by Alexis Zegerman, and Death by Ryan Craig adds up to hour and a bit of truly satisfying and stimulating entertainment. If fringe theatre is for anything it is to allow shows like these to flourish. Director Kayla Feldman has handled the material beautifully – the events all take place round a table - and gets lovely performances all round from her casts. In Birth a rather pompous retired gynaecologist (Planer) and his wife Lynda (Caroline Gruber) are squabbling over the crossword when a visitor turns up unexpectedly and we learn that she was one of his babies and has never recovered from finding out that it was an induced birth so that he could go on holiday. No spoilers. The visitor isn’t mad. She isn’t, as he suspects, going to sue, but she needs something. She is damaged. In Marriage a couple meet on a blind date and everything goes wrong – just what they have in common seems impossible to work out except that both will eventually face up to what the future holds while Godfrey (Planer) looks on from on high – he is, of course, God. Abigail Weinstock is the difficult girl confronted with an impossible twit, a hilarious Sam Thorpe-Spinks, before they succumb to the inevitable. In Death we mourn the demise of a hamster as well as the decision by grandma that her funeral arrangements should all be made while she is still hale and hearty rather than wait until the time comes, which daughter, Weinstock again, approves of while son, Dan Wolff going berserk over that deceased hamster and the daughter, being divorced, he seldom sees to which it belongs, does not – and God arrives at the end. There are rituals Jews observe, which add savour to the goings on, but truth to tell all human life is there in this truly delightful trio of tiny plays.

Cast

Nigel Planer – Godfrey

Abigail Weinstock – Eva Leah

Adrian Schitter – Dan

Dorothea Myer-Bennett – Naomi, Sara

Caroline Gruber – Lynda

Dan Wulff – Adam

Sam Thorpe-Spinks – Adrian.

Creatives

Director – Kayla Feldman

Set & Costumes – Verity Johnson

Sound Designer – Annie May Fletcher

Lighting Designer – Laurel Marks.

Photos - Danny With a Camera