A Man and His Circumstance is the new offering from one of Liverpool’s brightest theatrical prospects, Tom Cain. Best known for the critically acclaimed 97+, which took the fringe circuit by storm, packing out the famous Olympia in Liverpool, Cain’s new piece of work deals with the subject of men’s physical health.
College student Joel (Matthew Swinnerton) seemingly has it all: days hanging out with friends Skully (Bethany Rosehill) and Marco (Sean Robinson), and evenings with his girlfriend, Sarah. However, when diagnosed with an intimate medical condition that requires surgery, he descends into isolation and social neglect. Highlighting the importance of men’s physical and mental health, A Man and His Circumstance reminds the audience of the importance of conversation and relationships with ourselves and others.
With just three actors on stage, three black boxes, and a few props, it would be easy to assume that the piece would underwhelm. However, the lack of distraction from impressive sets and a large ensemble cast focuses attention on the story, which is dealt with sensitively yet still manages to entertain. Cain, who has written, directed, and produced this piece of theatre, has excelled at finding the balance between being informative about men’s physical health conditions while also finding the necessary humour in the situation.
The cast further embody this sentiment. Swinnerton, as Joel, rarely leaves the stage and leads the cast with force. He is believable in his struggle and relatable in his conviction of the typical male attitude of ‘I’m fine’. He breaks the fourth wall as if speaking his truth directly to you and comes into his own as the character deals with a period of isolation. It’s an impressive, rounded performance.
Other characters in the piece are Marco, Joel’s friend; Joel’s brother, Chris; and stepdad, Derick, all played by Sean Robinson. While Robinson thrived portraying Marco, greater character development to differentiate between Chris and Derick is needed. An emotional connection between the brothers was lacking, with Chris’s lines requiring greater emphasis in the delivery. It would have been interesting to see a greater connection develop between the brothers as the play progressed, bonding in similar scenarios. Robinson came into his own when Derick’s past is explored, delivering the required emotion for such a pivotal moment in the play.
Bethany Rosehill multi-roles as Joel’s girlfriend, mother, doctor, and friend Skully. Rosehill is seriously gifted, and her skills are put to good use in a diverse range of characters. She is powerful yet intimidating as Joel’s mother, and a stereotypical ‘chav’ as Joel’s friend Skully. While the character of Joel’s doctor seemed disinterested, Rosehill demanded the audience’s attention each time she was on stage, especially with her chemistry with Swinnerton. It’s this wide-ranging skill set that keeps the piece fresh and constantly changing dynamics.
A Man and His Circumstance is a much-needed piece of theatre highlighting the honest conversations men should be having. Repeating the success of 97+ is no doubt going to be difficult, but Tom Cain has every chance with this thought-provoking and genuinely funny play.
★★★★
Gifted ticket in exchange for an honest review.
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Photography supplied by Tom Cain.