Writer: Erin Boulter
Director: Shamama Fatima
Play On is billed as a dark comedy, but it feels like more of a family drama. The premise offers a fun twist on its single-location setting: two estranged siblings are forced to complete an escape room together in order to gain access to their late mother’s will (and therefore their inheritance money). Will they manage to mend their relationship and/or solve the escape room before their time is up?
Younger sibling Ash (Eris Boulter, they/them) is coping through false cheer that leans passive-aggressive, while older sister Lea (Nora Went, she/her) is seething with barely-restrained irritation at Ash’s choice to wear all-red clothes to their mother’s funeral – which only just finished. Their strained relationship feels authentic throughout, conveying deep familiarity and mutual frustration in every movement and expression. Whether they’re interacting or taking a moment alone to tamp down their feelings, both actors deliver a strong performance – the director has done an excellent job.
Unfortunately, the piece runs into some difficulties due to its premise, runtime and script. A realist portrayal of an escape room leaves little room for creativity with sound, lighting or staging (aside from the carefully planned props), so the dialogue is under pressure to carry the show. Fifty-five minutes is a tight deadline to resolve years of interpersonal issues, and there are plenty to unpack! The script can feel heavy-handed sometimes as a result and (at worst) can strain the suspension of disbelief. Some intense emotional moments or revelations to the audience can lack space to breathe, or feel under-explored, while the characters’ emotional intelligence seems to fluctuate.
On the other hand, there are also true-to-life moments that highlight the siblings’ tumultuous family history. The complex relationships are a highlight, and topics such as coming out, being adopted and wrestling with high parental expectations are handled with compassion. The escape room elements start out fairly straightforward, but soon ramp up in challenge – much like when audiences try to solve a mystery ahead of the detective, it’s a fun mini-game to try and spot the next clue before the characters do.
Overall, Play On has a lot of potential, but it could do with a bit more polish to help the script shine as much as the other elements of the performance.
Runs until 24 August 2025
The Reviews Hub Star Rating