PATRICK MARMION reviews The Fifth Step at Soho Place: Lost soul Jack Lowden tackles Martin Freeman in a ruthless boxing match of a drama
Jack Lowden has become one of the hottest properties on telly since starring opposite Gary Oldman in Apple TV+'s hit spy drama Slow Horses.
In fact, our Jack's got so big that no less a figure than Hobbit and Sherlock star Martin Freeman has become his wingman in a new play by David Ireland about two men in Alcoholics Anonymous.
As is common with AA stories, the subject matter is raw, excruciating and often alarmingly funny.
Lowden's nervy Scottish character, Luka, is a desperate loner and end-of-road boozer who identifies as an incel, or 'involuntary celibate'. He's grown jealous of married mates who have sex (not his word) 'on tap'.
And, in addition to long-haul descents into alcohol bingeing, he has porn and self- abuse as surrogate, back-up addictions. He is, in short, in free fall.
We are a long way from Lowden's ill-fated MI5 agent River Cart- wright in Slow Horses.
In desperation, Luka has submitted to the 12-step programme for recovering drinkers in a seemingly vain attempt to turn his life around with help from his 25-years-sober mentor James (Freeman).
And Lowden gives us an absolutely top-of-the-range performance, fully exploring the psychological cul-de-sacs and self-defeating wiles of his dismal character.
Lowden's wounded puppy-dog eyes come as standard for a young man who is dangerously lonely and hopelessly vulnerable. It's an understated, nervously volatile display that's simultaneously edgy and guarded.
Luka has whole repertoires of defensive ticks – wardrobes of scratching, catalogues of leg tremors and gamuts of blinking. But, blessed with a benign, unaffected idiocy, you can't help loving Lowden's lost soul, who's been saved after encountering Jesus one night at a multi-gym.
Freeman by contrast as the fully-recovered Mr Ordinary oozes the complacent personality of a Marks & Spencer mannequin. With typical highly-focused fidgeting, Freeman's James is an ostentatiously patient alter-ego and secular confessor to Luka.
But it's the work of Ireland's confrontational boxing match of a drama that ensures Freeman's shell of anti-charisma gets cracked too – as both men grapple with AA's Fifth Step of admitting their wrongs, to themselves, each other and to God.
Yes, God features quite prominently in Ireland's ruthlessly unecclestiastical writing, although there must be moments when the Almighty wishes he could bow out. But mobilising four-letter, weapons-grade repartee, Ireland is never merely gratuitous and has a genius for embarrassing moral dilemmas.
Never flattering us with what we'd like to believe of ourselves, he is an aficionado of unacceptable attitudes and shameful home truths.
This left viewers joyously grateful. Women in the audience in particular near howled with laughter at Luka's pitifully sexist delusions.
We men may prefer to crawl under a stone. Nor does Finn Den Hertog's production leave either of his actors anywhere to hide, with spectators on all four sides of a rectangle of fitted carpet.
So, in addition to the unburthening and self-torture, it's a chastening exercise in forgiveness and acceptance. Unsurprisingly, tickets have sold out. Pray for an extension or returns.
The Fifth Step runs until July 26
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘Brucey was crying' – What Pep Guardiola said to Steve Bruce about Lionel Messi left him in tears
PEP GUARDIOLA left Steve Bruce in tears of laughter during a conversation about bringing Lionel Messi to Manchester City. A reunion between the pair was on the cards in 2020 when Messi's contract with Barcelona started to wind down. 4 4 Messi was said to have been convinced by his old manager to move to the Etihad but performed a U-turn due to his belief Barca would offer him a new deal. That deal didn't end up coming to fruition and he ended up joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in August 2021. The prospect of Messi moving to the Prem quickly became the talk of players and managers alike. And at Premier League meeting with all the managers present, former Burnley boss Sean Dyche quizzed Guardiola about his pursuit of the footie icon while getting a cup of tea with Bruce. During an appearance on talkSPORT, he recalled: "I said, 'What was that thing about Lionel Messi?' "He (Guardiola) goes, 'Sean, Steve, I tell you this. Lionel, he said no way can he come to Manchester City. "Because I tell Lionel it rains. 'It rains and rains. And when it stops raining, it rains again.' "Then he goes, 'Lionel, on a Monday night, you have to go to Burnley, Sean's team. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 "And they go bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.' Brucey was crying!" Dyche, 53, added: "I went, 'That's exactly what we're going to do, Pep You warned him correctly.' Lionel Messi gives rare insight into his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo "Me and Brucey were crying, honestly. It was genius. Pep, brilliant." The prospect of eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi rocking up at Turf Moor tickled Dyche, who said: "Imagine that. "His face turning up at Turf Moor going, 'What on earth? " "Absolutely smashing it down with rain, wind blowing across and knocking you over." Messi spent two seasons with PSG before upping sticks to the MLS to join David Beckham co-owned Inter Miami.
Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
British rising star makes shock appearance among front runners for James Bond takeover amid ongoing speculation over who will be next 007
Speculation as to who will take over the role of James Bond from Daniel Craig in the next instalment of the franchise has been heating up in recent weeks. And now a British rising star has found himself among the front runners as one of the bookies' surprise favourites. The actor had a huge year in 2024 as he lead one of the most anticipated Disney live action films. Film-lovers have been patiently waiting to find out when the new 007 movie will be released since Craig finished his five film stint as the British spy with No Time To Die. And as this actor's popularity grows, it seems the bookmakers think he could be in line to be cast as the iconic spy. Amazon recently took over 'creative control' of the much-loved franchise and are said to be fast-tracking the new film, with Hollywood producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal hired to bring in the new era of Bond. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. British fan favourites Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Henry Cavill have been linked to the role, while The White Lotus actor Theo James emerged as the latest bookies' favourite last month. But Mufasa star Aaron Pierre, 31, has now found himself in the mix, with William Hill putting him at 8/1 - the same odds as Cavill. The bookmaker sees Taylor-Johnson the most likely to take over at odds of 11/8, while James sits at 7/2. Right behind Pierre and Cavill is Happy Valley actor James Norton, and chasing his tail is Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden. Earlier this month, betting companies released their odds for the next James Bond villain - with one unexpected household name topping the list. The favourite was then none other than Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy, 49, who sits at the top of OLBG's odds at 9/2. The Irish actor - best known for playing Thomas Shelby - had previously been touted for the part of Bond but played down speculation, telling Deadline: 'I think I'm a bit old for that.' Also in the running to play the Bond bad guy are American actor Paul Giamatti (11/2), The Boogeyman star David Dastmalchian (13/2), and unlikely contender Zendaya (7/1). The bookmaker sees Aaron Taylor-Johnson (left in August) the most likely to take over at odds of 11/8, while Theo James (right in January 2024) sits at 7/2 Despite 'usually playing the good guy' in her previous roles, the female actress told Elle in 2023 that she's ready to enter her villainous era. 'I would love to play a villain of sorts,' the 28-year-old said. 'Tap into the evil, supervillain vibes. Whatever that manifests in, I don't think necessarily in a superhero sense, I just mean in like an emotional sense. 'I feel like I usually play the good guy, so I'd like to play the bad guy.' Cillian Murphy remains the strong favourite for the role, with Betting Expert Jake Ashton backing the Irish star too. 'The villain role in the Bond movies is just as iconic as Bond himself,' he said. 'With Cillian Murphy at the height of his powers and trusted by major directors, he's a natural favourite.' No Time To Die saw Oscar winner Rami Malek star as its lead antagonist Lyutsifer Safin, a terrorist chief and scientist driven by a desire to dismantle the criminal group SPECTRE. Before him A-lister Christoph Waltz starred as the villain in Spectre and Javier Bardem played Raoul Silva in Skyfall, an antagonist described as 'up there with the great' Bond baddies. Amazon bosses are currently said to be considering locations in which to set the much-anticipated new film, which experts predicted is likely to be released at the end of next year or in 2027. Due to a filming ban being imposed in Central London next year, new locations are reportedly being considered - with Liverpool a frontrunner, according to The Sun. An insider told the publication: 'This will no doubt irk Bond purists who already fear Amazon taking over the 007 franchise may lead to them making big changes. 'But Liverpool is a well-known alternative to London for film-makers. 'It has appeared in everything from The Batman to Captain America and Harry Potter movies, doubling up as international cities.' The source added that it doesn't necessarily mean the story will be set in Liverpool - though eagle-eyed Merseysiders will no doubt spot their city centre in the background.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
‘People thought I was off my face': indie rockers Hard-Fi look back at adrenaline, addiction and a life of excess
Hard-Fi formed in 2003 in Staines, Surrey. Frontman Richard Archer, guitarist Ross Phillips, bassist Kai Stephens and drummer Steve Kemp released their debut album, Stars of CCTV, in 2005. Featuring Cash Machine, Hard to Beat and Living for the Weekend, it reached No 1 in the UK, sold 1.2m copies worldwide and earned Brit awards and a Mercury prize nomination. The band released two further albums before going on hiatus in 2014. They reunited in 2022 and released a new EP in 2024. This shoot was for an interview in the Big Issue. I still wear those clothes now, but back then a good jacket or pair of sunglasses was a suit of armour. With the right pair of shades, I could face the Terminator. The more extrovert elements of being a frontman didn't always come naturally, so at times I was playing a larger-than-life character. I wasn't that confident performing – not to the extent I'd puke up backstage, but I'd get nervous and try too hard. I was also a bit gobbier and swearier back then. A lot of people thought I was off my face on coke, which I wasn't. Adrenaline is powerful stuff. I often had this outsider feeling – as if there was a party going on we weren't invited to. We'd go out in Staines rather than Camden, but, even though we weren't part of the 'scene', our shows kept selling out. By 2006, it felt like we were on a train that was getting faster and faster. For years, we'd tour and do promo, with no days off – all of which was exciting but exhausting. The whole time I thought: 'We can't stop, we can't screw it up.' There was so much pressure that I didn't get a chance to stop and soak it in. After our third record, the label said: 'We're not going to make another album with you.' I wanted to keep the band going, but the energy wasn't there any more. Ross had his first child, money was getting tight and I realised we should move on. In the years since, I've been writing and producing for other artists. In 2020, I got in touch with the guys and suggested we do something. I was thinking, 'Will people actually turn up?', but we sold out the Kentish Town Forum in 10 minutes. And here we are! I had never worn a flat cap in my life. It was not my thing, so I felt self-conscious. But this was 2005 – I felt self-conscious permanently. I was almost certainly thinking: 'Right, a flat cap, is it? I'll just stand here and try to look tough.' Before Hard-Fi, I was on the dole. I'd go in and say: 'We've got meetings at a record label, the band might actually happen.' They'd reply: 'Sure. Have you thought about getting a job at HMV?' When we signed to Atlantic in December 2004, the dole office thought I was making it up. I was shocked, too – so much so that I wanted to hide my portion of the advance in a pillow case. That approach continued whenever the band had success. As soon as anything good happened, I couldn't celebrate. I just felt fear. Our debut album was recorded in a taxi office covered in cheap asbestos tiles that looked as if they'd been painted yellow, but it was nicotine. They'd turn to dust if you touched them, and there were rats living in the roof. It was grim, a really nasty place. All of which made the more glamorous parts of the band more surreal. James Blunt invited us to a party at his place once. I was introduced to Paris Hilton. She looked me up and down, twice, then turned and walked away. Being in Hard-Fi is half family, half military operation. Rich is the colonel. I am the sergeant – I crack the whip. Ross is a private – 'Yes, sir!' – and Kai is more likely to be awol. We are solid, but we can bicker about all sorts. I get wound up the easiest. I get the hump about anything. After the group went on hiatus, I wanted to use my brain, so I ended up retraining as a nutritionist. Do I help the band eat healthily now? Not remotely. Twenty years later, I am still the same guy. Although, these days I would have the confidence to say no to the flat cap. Those Versace shades definitely helped me get into character. When I joined the group, I realised I was probably not in the best place for what could be a really exciting opportunity. I wasn't getting enough sleep or living my best life, so I had to sharpen up and straighten out. I had a lot of respect for Richard, I had come across Steve at university, and I got on with Ross straight away – we were both just lads from Staines. Before Hard-Fi, I was doing pest control. We used my van for some of those early gigs, and, as I had tough guts, I wasn't bothered by much. Once someone dropped something down a toilet and I grabbed it out with my hand. When the taxi office had an ant infestation, I said: 'Why do you think they're here? It's not for the tunes. There's sugar everywhere.' When our first single made the Top 20, I couldn't believe it was happening. Looking back, I don't think I responded well. Artistically I stepped up to the plate, but personally I lost the plot. My impostor syndrome was huge, and I was dealing with it by becoming dependent on alcohol. There wasn't much talk about addiction back then. To some extent, it was encouraged by the industry. After we were dropped, we had a good break from each other for a fair few years. During that time, I went on a real journey – bad habits returning, and losing a loved one. But I also got the chance to become a good father. I feel positive about life now, but mixed about what's happening with the band. As much as it's exciting to live a bit of 2005 again, because of the crazy curve I've been on, there's apprehension there, too. We were considered 'urban' by the press, so most of our early shoots were done in car parks or bus shelters – anywhere that looked grimy. This one would have been a pleasant change. My outfit is standard Hard-Fi clobber – a black polo and army surplus. I felt comfortable in that – ready to go. I was only 21 when Hard-Fi took off, and the last one to join. I was nervous, but they were an easy bunch of fellas. I'm the youngest of three siblings, I go with the flow, and I applied that same mentality to being in Hard-Fi. It's almost impossible to wind me up. Only my kids can – they've got special skills. In 2005, we were out every night and away from home for months on end. It was great, but I found doing red carpets stressful. Even after four pints, I look like I'm thinking: 'Ahh. What the fuck.' When the third album came around, I started having kids and I thought it was time to get a job. Music stopped for me for a few years – my guitars were put in a cupboard to keep them away from the kids. As we started up the group again, I realised I had forgotten how much I loved playing. But it is a different dynamic this time around. Back then I was just making music. I had zero responsibilities. I knew absolutely nothing at all.
