Oli Higginson (John), Meaghan Martin (Julie) in Smoke at the Southwark Playhouse
Photo Credit: Lucy Hayes
SMOKE is a play by Kim Davies adapted from August Strindberg’s ground-breaking play, Miss Julie. It concerns the two individuals at a BDSM party in New York City with Julie (Meaghan Martin) and John (Oli Higginson) central to the plot and the only characters. Julie’s life of privilege (her father employs John) and age gap really shows her immaturity on her viewing of all things in her life. On the other hand. John’s played with conviction as a loser who is financially struggling to make ends meet as an artist. Despite their ten year age gap, the two hit it off immediately and we’re all suddenly partaking in their cat and mouse game. Before you know it, there’s issues pertaining to consent and the way a game can be pushed as far within the confines of the suffocative environment.
The set takes place the round within in the restrictive confines of what appears to be an adult sand pit, with black charcoal like substance that John takes pleasure in crushing over his new lover. She is shown to be sharing cigarettes with her new-lover, and the passing of sand through their hands was the best part in this piece. I really felt it was a unique way to portray the sharing of the titular nouns: smoke.
Overall, SMOKE is an interesting look at how we perceive sexuality and gendered norms in a cis-hetero-patriarchal environments. In its original iteration from 2014, I imagine it would have been revolutionising as a piece. Though I do think the post-show feeling for me didn’t take me to the elevated space of contemplative nature that I expected. I just felt that it did what it was claiming to do so. I didn’t leave feeling like I’d learnt what I didn’t already know, hence my main issue with the portrayal. One thing I’ve to commend the team is their inclusion of an intimacy director, despite the two actors being a real-life couple.
Oli Higginson (John), Meaghan Martin (Julie) in Smoke at the Southwark Playhouse
Photo Credit: Lucy Hayes
To conclude, if you find happen to find yourself at a loose end in London this February, these are two performances that I’d say are worthy of a watch simply for the witty writing, as well as the physical theatre on display from the two actors who give convincing portrayals.
Listing information: SMOKE by Kim Davies
📍Southwark Playhouse : 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD
Box Office: 020 7407 0234 (Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm)
www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/the-little/smoke
Twitter, Instagram, TikTok: @swkplay
Facebook: @SouthwarkPlayhouse
Tickets: £16 Previews / £22 standard / £17.50 concessions
** 1 February 2023 – 25 February 2023 **
Co-Directors: Júlia Levai and Polina Kalinina; Production Design: Sami Fendall;Sound Design: Jamie Lu; Lighting Designer: Rajiv Pattani; Graphic Designer: Justin Williams; Intimacy Director: Asha Jennings-Grant