Review: The Sea Horse (Golden Goose Theatre)

Review by Heva Morris

⭐️⭐️⭐️

An American play performed in a British pub theatre – The Golden Goose was a fantastic choice for the UK premiere of The Sea Horse, a two-hander and telling of a turbulent love tale. The set, simple but detailed and tastefully designed by Shahaf Beer, feels like stepping through a portal from an old English pub to an all-American bar by the waterfront. Though there are moments that pull us out of the action and onto the shore, The Sea Horse offers a fantastic evening of wading through the choppy waters of a relationship on the rocks.

This is a story that can carry across ages, an ode to people standing in their own way to potential happiness. The final lines uttered signal the emotive spinning point of this story, as Harry, played by Jay Rincon, tries relentlessly to gain a deeper connection with Gertrude, played by Rachael Bellis. In an age of poor attention spans, this production does a wonderful job at gripping our attention from start to finish, with Rincon and Bellis diving with wholehearted passion into an undeniably complicated relationship for us to untangle. 

Rincon gives an exceptionally playful and nuanced performance from start to finish. An actor with ease and imagination, whose cheeky smile and tactful ways to bring Gertrude out of her shell bring the audience onside. In the second half we see Bellis really find her home stride, bringing more gravity and vulnerable layers to Gertrude, behind her angry, unpredictable exterior.

What stops us from initially connecting with Bellis at the start of the play is some of the lack of believability in her actions. One example being– for those of us working years in hospitality know it’s not possible to cash up and count cash whilst speaking in detail to another, stopping and starting, knowing exactly where in the count we were. Though to some, these are perhaps minor details, when added together with other similar moments, cause us to feel disbelief, making us aware we are watching the actor rather than pulling us into Gertrude’s story.

Both actors do a great job at delving into a complicated relationship and, despite loving that, we are not given all the answers straight away, some big explanations as to why characters are the way they are, are left till the very end. This does leave a slightly shuddering feeling when huge, sickening topics like gang rape feel like they are dropped but quickly brushed under the rug. If this is the moment that’s been waiting to be revealed, the ultimate reason why a character cannot give-in to love due to the trauma of her past; then the characters must be affected by it, for the audience to also be. Furthermore, some of the stagecraft similarly inhibited key emotional moments, such as a fight scene just before the interval, which felt particularly staged and didn’t land, leaving us unsure of the second half’s trajectory.

Despite some moments taking us on a current away from the story, direction by Mandi Riggi brings us back on course every time. Her clear consistent vision keeps us invested in the world of the play. What could easily become a stagnant show in today’s world of new technologies and enhanced storytelling, is an energetic and impactful tale. Riggi strategically manages the pace of the plot and keeps us in a whirlwind of dynamic flowing tension.  

The Sea Horse is a play that shows how the depth of the past and un-met dreams and promises of the future can hinder us. A production that should be commended for its commitment to the craft, ability to tell such an uneasy love story with consistent waves of passion and charming storytelling. By the end of the play we are praying these characters give in, and accept the love that is right before their eyes. If you are looking for a simple sea tale of love and disaster made gripping and beautiful, this is it.

The Sea Horse plays at Golden Goose Theatre until 15th November. Tickets from https://www.goldengoosetheatre.co.uk/whatson/theseahorse

Photos by Jess Blake