Review: Cold Water (Park Theatre)

Review by Harry Bower

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Graduating from University and moving back home rather than immediately diving into a new career can feel like failure. That feeling is particularly acute when growing up in a small town in rural England, as is the case for Emma, an aspiring actor who has just moved back in with her parents and has secured a part time job at her old school. Emma’s new boss is Head of Drama, Matt, who himself had a modest career on stage, before downscaling his ambition and teaching teenagers to tread the boards instead. In Cold Water, writer/director Philippa Lawford explores their fledgling relationship in an intimate, funny and charming two-hander at Park90.

This writer can relate to Emma. I grew up in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and when I graduated University I panicked and tried to move to the city as soon as possible, in whatever job I could find. Emma is a wonderfully naive twenty two year old - not on her gap year - confident and desperate to be seen as an adult on one hand and tragically ill equipped to deal with the realities of adulthood on the other. Many audience members will also relate to Matt, a man who loosens his grip on his dreams in favour of settling down with a partner, perhaps settling for a less volatile life in return for security. When pitched together Emma and Matt play out an age old story; a younger naive worker falls for an older aspirational boss. Cold Water, though, is more than just a simple love story.

There are themes throughout of the archetypal arts power struggle between up-and-comer and connected-industry person, and you could easily interpret some scenes as gentle nods toward the inappropriate nature of scandals which regularly play out behind the scenes in the theatre and film/TV sectors. The piece is cleverly entwined with scenes from Chekhov’s The Seagull which aligns well with the themes of deep desire for something you can’t have and allows for moments of introspection. What’s great about this relationship drama is that although most of the plot can be predicted from minute one, it never feels stale or boring. It never feels like we are meandering to a predetermined conclusion. That is huge credit to the writing which is evocative yet sensitive and believable. Lawford’s characters are so well rounded, and have tangible emotional depth.

The studio-space at Park90 feels perfect for the drama studio setting, as chairs and scripts are stacked alongside a whiteboard and desk. Costumes hang on a railing and props from the upcoming play-within-a-play are prepared by the staff. Watching Matt physically lay the foundations for what’s to come, as he takes the lead on setting everything up for each scene, is light touch but very effective. As an audience we feel we are being safely guided through each interaction by someone in control - it’s easy to see how Emma might fall for him. Yet, the characters are drawn in such a way that we instinctively feel protective of her and therefore suspicious of Matt. It’s an unsettling dichotomy which produces incredibly uncomfortable moments which had me shifting in my seat and covering my eyes, willing a happy ending.

My investment in the characters is partly down to the writing, but in large part down to two outstanding performances. Jolyon Coy as Matt is quietly confident but almost tragically withdrawn; Coy skillfully wields his character’s sarcasm to elicit unexpected laughter but is always immensely believable as a teacher. Matt’s struggles with his wife and conception play out with little room to hide for the performer, his back up against the wall and a light interrogation from his junior. Coy is at his strongest when he is demonstrating Matt’s emotional vulnerabilities - it’s moving to watch. Julia Pilkington as Emma is a revelation. She is brilliantly embarrassing and cringey when required but switches it up and embraces her character’s insecurities in a way which endears her immediately to the room. Pilkington is an actor capable of conveying an entire set of complex emotions and context just by using their eyes; and it is magical to watch. Both performers are worth the entry fee alone.

Cold Water is a tale of the curse of ambition, the harsh reality of becoming an adult, and falling in love with your boss. Those elements are sewn together in a creative if predictable fashion which feels familiar and real. The conclusion, too, is satisfying in its own regard. Sometimes the end of a story leaves you with more questions to answer and, in Emma’s case, that is no bad thing. Written with humour and sensitivity, it zooms in on an intimate relationship between two people, and leaves its audience feeling charmed. This is a delightful hour and twenty minutes in the theatre which you’d be sorry to miss out on.

Cold Water plays at the Park Theatre until 01 June 2024. For more information visit: https://sohotheatre.com/events/blizzard/

Photos by Jake Bush