Simon Ward reviews Miraculous at the Old Red Lion Theatre

Luke Stiles’s new play, in which he also plays Josh, has its roots in the American tradition of children and older teenagers spending at least part of their summer away in the countryside at camp, while their parents either work, or otherwise take advantage of time without their offspring. In this case, the added dimension is that this is a specifically Christian camp, in which the young people have mentors to help them on their spirtual journey. To the chagrin of Josh, a late teenager, he is assigned not to someone around his own age but to a fully grown adult, and pastor to boot, Paul (Diego Zozayo). Because what is on Josh’s mind, of course, is sex. And the vexed question of how he can reconcile his desires with the church’s dire warnings about the consequences of any sex before marriage. And he has even figured out that there can be no easy transition for believers who do get married to move from the shame and guilt they associate with sex to the blissful holy union they have been promised. So, a lot for Paul to try and deal with in their sessions together.

With minimal set but expertly deployed sound (Pierre Flasse) and lighting (Amy Fisher) director Toby Clarke works wonders to create an atmosphere that veers from humorous banter to simmering tension and ultimately explosive energy. There is much teasing around camp life, which works best for those most familiar with that milieu, but the points are well made even for those of us who are not. Josh and Paul wrangle endlessly over the Bible. Josh is much more enthusiastic about the cinematic glories of the Old Testament where God can part seas and smite His enemies than the limp New Testament Jesus who expects us to love them. Paul can reconcile the two aspects in his own mind, but finds it challenging to explain. And we wonder whether Josh really cares about any of this. His motivation seems to be less about seeking the truth and more about goading the older authority figure. One perhaps lacking in his own life – his parents don’t seem particularly religious and have sent him to camp so they can go on holiday. Is this just a rite of passage, as he figures out what does and does not matter to him? For Paul, however, the struggle is real. He really believes, and it bothers him that he seems unable to persuade Josh. So, as a last throw of the dice, he suggests that his son, Nathan, might be the answer. If Josh can talk to someone his own age, maybe, just maybe, he will see the light. The Biblical resonance of this father risking all with his only son is inescapable.

The action becomes increasingly fraught. In the wilderness where they are camping the danger of the elements is inescapable, especially for reckless young adults wrenched from the norms of their everyday lives. This is a challenging and unnerving exploration of what it means to believe in something, and perhaps also what it would mean to believe in absolutely nothing. Cleverly constructed and brilliantly executed, it is a devastating piece of work which I hope will reach a wide audience.

Miraculous is running at the Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 Red Lion Street, London EC1V 4NJ until Saturday 21st March