Breeders by Ben Ockrent. L To R Angela Griffin, Nicholas Burns, Tamzin Outhwaite and Jemima Rooper. Photo Manuel Harlan Breeders St James Theatre September 5, 2014 4 Stars
When a lesbian couple decide to avoid adoption and seek more familial options for conceiving their first child, it seems an obvious choice to ask one of the partner’s brother, and so the premise is set for Breeders, a new comedy by Ben Ockrent.
Tamsin Outhwaite and Angela Griffin as lesbian couple Andrea and Caroline, negotiate the involvement of Andrea’s brother Jimmy (Nicholas Burns) as sperm donor, much to the initial resistance of Jimmy’s girlfriend Sharon (Jemima Rooper). As well thought out plans disintegrate, panic sets in and each character in turn realises that their reasons for wanting to be involved may not be as well-intentioned or deliberated as fully as initially thought.
Ockrent’s play is one that is grounded in the theme of family. Cleverly using the tradition of St Lucia’s Day (both Andrea and Jimmy have Swedish ancestry), Ockrent has a device that allows him the chance to lighten the action by interspersing dramatic scenes with well-known Christmas and pop songs sung in Swedish. Combined with some great one-liners, the play never descends into a mire of deep philosophical debate but makes some significant arguments with humour as relationships are stretched to the brink. Using a bag of flour as a stand in baby and the mechanics of insemination have never been funnier.
It’s a tight ensemble directed with panache by Tamara Harvey. Outhwaite and Griffin are genuinely believable as the wannabe parents, whilst Nicholas Burns makes the audience ache at times over the plight of Jimmy who is under increasing pressure to deliver the goods in a female dominated environment, whilst facing the barbs of girlfriend Sharon who is conscious of being excluded as time goes on.
Breeders is the first play in a season of three by Stage One at the St James Theatre, awarding new producers a chance to present work and producer Vicky Graham should be enormously proud of this production.
Breeders is a humorous take on a complicated and oft-times deeply emotional subject but one that should be on your must see list.
Breeders runs until the 4th October
Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.
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