‘Thanks For Having Me' (directed by Monica Cox) tells the story of four thirty-something-year-olds all learning how to navigate the world of modern dating. Stumbling alongside these characters as they fumble their way through love and heartbreak, we learn the importance of relationships in every sense of the word.
The character of ‘Cashel' has to be a particular standout for me (played by Keelan Kember). He's neurotic, ridiculous, and completely over the top, yet still so relatable. Watching a man in his early thirties attempt to learn the art of dating after coming out of an eight year relationship is painful in all of the ways you can imagine; yet it's charming. There's a likability to his skewed-view of romance.
The plot weaves lovely moments of soft vulnerability amongst the loud chaos of the overarching story. A few of the characters are deliberately over the top, yet they still manage to have moments of sincerity without needing to spell it out for the audience. It feels natural and, most importantly, human.
The script is fantastically written (Keelan Kember) and manages to be painfully relatable whilst also sprinkling moments of absurdity throughout. I would argue that, perhaps, the female characters feel a tad underwritten/developed in contrast to the male characters. For example, we hear little about the character of Maya (Adeyinka Akinrinade) and her reasons for dating/not dating until the very end of the play. It would be nice to have them feel a bit more fleshed out, particularly in comparison to the melodrama of their male co-stars.
Overall, this is a really fun play that makes you appreciate the people you have around you (and not just in the romantic sense). It's an easy watch and yet it still leaves you thinking; a definite must-see.
Showing at Riverside Studios until the 26th April
Review: Bethany Chandler Photo: Oliver Kember