Simon Ward reviews Coffee Break at the Hen and Chickens Theatre

Running as part of the Camden Fringe, this is an intigruing show on paper. Written, directed and produced by Bruce Kitchener, it seems to be a labour of love. According to the press release, it is inspired by the work of metaphysical poet Andrew Marvell and is a meditation on the relationship we have with our body. I’m afraid that none of this was any clearer to me after spending an hour in a coffee shop with Jo (Ezra Dobson) and Lu (Emily Beach), with occasional interventions by Pat (Kat Kitchener). It is one of those plays where you keep hoping that the penny will drop and suddenly the pieces will fall into place, as the symbolism becomes clear and the metaphor starts to do its work. Do Jo and Lu represent Freudian Ego and Id, or body and soul? And what does that make Pat, who appears in multiple different guises, from glittery gameshow host to officious receptionist to sympathetic doctor? I still haven’t figured it out.

The backdrop suggests a fairly realistic coffee shop and two cups of takeaway coffee sit on the tablealthough, rather oddly, neither character ever drinks any. It appears that Jo has been involved in a collision with an electric bike and although there is no visible injury there is mention of a headache. Lu seems to be there for moral support. Jo and Lu’s relationship might be described as reluctantly inseparable. They recount many experiences together, but there is always an argument brewing under the surface, and trivial disagreements are liable to lead to major conflict. Even when they recall a happy moment, the atmosphere soon descends into angry recrimination. Lu feels put upon by Jo’s demands; Jo can’t understand why what to them seems perfectly reasonable behaviour can cause so many problems.

One thing they do share is a mutual incomprehension as to where they are and what they are waiting for. As they speculate, Pat emerges from time to time to give teasing clues. As Pat, Kat Kitchener delivers a masterclass in the kind of superficially friendly but ultimately determinedly unhelpful manner of the gatekeeper-cum-receptionist. This is enjoyable but also as frustrating for the audience as for the protagonists – we all need to know what’s going on. Although the Marvell influence escaped me, I did think more than once of Beckett and Godot, and the labyrinthine officialese brought Kafka to mind.

The acting is fine – Dobson and Beach are quite believable as an odd couple who can’t live with or without each other – but unfortunately the whole show left me dissatisfied. It felt like there was a tantalising piece of a puzzle just out of reach which would have made it all make sense. It’s hard to disagree with Lucy’s final words to bring the play to its close – ‘This is stupid!’

Coffee Break is running at the Hen and Chickens Theatre, 109, St Paul’s Road, London N1 2NA until Saturday 10th August.