Anna Jordan’s Bruntwood prize-winning play takes place in a filthy flat where 16-year-old Hench and his 13-year-old brother Bobby live alone gawping at video games and violent porn while taking turns to wear the single T-shirt in their possession. There’s no adult supervision, though their mother occasionally shambles over from her latest boyfriend’s place and announces her arrival by passing out in a diabetic coma.
It’s the kind of grim, beneath-the-breadline scenario in which you think you know what you’re in for – until the transformative appearance of Jennifer, a practical, animal-loving Welsh girl who shows concern for the brothers’ neglected dog (named Taliban “because he’s vicious ... and brown”). Bearing plastic toys, bargain buckets of fish fingers and a wisdom in excess of her years, she succeeds in taming both Taliban and his semi-feral owners.
Though it appears fairly modest, the dynamic range of Jordan’s writing is extraordinary. It’s rare for a play to encompass such extremes of violence and tenderness; and the intensity is further enhanced by the dark symbolism of Ned Bennett’s production. Though we never see the dog, the callous treatment of a defenceless, two-bar radiator leaves you wondering if there’s a number you can ring for the prevention of cruelty to electrical equipment.
There’s outstanding work from Alex Austin’s Hench, whose hangdog demeanour finds a horrifyingly literal expression; Jake Davies as the ebullient but psychologically fragile Bobby; and Annes Elwy as Jennifer, whose implacable compassion is deeply moving without becoming saintly or sentimental. Even Sian Breckin, as the catastrophically irresponsible mother, comes with a bare minimum of redeeming features. Jordan’s play achieves the uncommon feat of being difficult to watch yet easy to love – anyone with a yen for consummately well-crafted drama should seek it out.
• Until 7 March. Box office: 0161-833 9833. Venue: Royal Exchange, Manchester.
