Whilst the National Theatre’s exalted Olivier stage currently explores the mental pressures and bravado ever present in the world of football with Dear England, the Park Theatre’s considerably smaller and more intimate playing area tackles rugby with BONES, a new play by Lewis Aaron Wood which asks “When is it OK to not want to play?”Directed and choreographed by Daniel Blake, the four actors Ronan Cullen, James Mackay, Ainsley Fannen and Samuel Hoult play members of a squad whose tensions and optimism are raised as they unexpectedly reach the semi-finals of a regional competition and learn that talent scouts may be present at their next big match. Unfortunately, the hero of the hour — their last-minute try scorer Ed — is struggling with the recent death of his mother and all those around him either never talk about their feelings, perpetually get drunk, or constantly engage in changing room banter which leaves no room for taking time-out to deal with grief.
What starts as a simple and potentially effective idea bumps along nicely, setting-up interactions between the four which are reinforced by some dazzling close-proximity choreographed on-pitch interplay. Balls are passed, cast members are tackled, lifted and jostled, there is much banter and machismo (of the locker room piss-taking variety) on display.
BONES is certainly a commendable effort but there is an unfortunate tendency towards cliché in the writing, which is sometimes difficult to ignore. The actors are at their best when ribbing and joshing each other, but things become noticeably more self-conscious in delivery around the more touchy-feely moments and little new ground is explored. The play might not set the world on fire, but it’s a fine first effort from the writer and his cast couldn’t be more engaged — as evidenced by the bruised knees on display.
