A love story that will feel familiar to many within the gay community, Behind Closed Doors introduces us to Jude (writer Corey Muizelaar) and Charlie (Ben Cunningham), a confident carer who quickly finds himself drawn into Jude’s complicated world. What starts out as a supposed one-night stand soon becomes something much more. Jude is battling drug addiction, and although Charlie desperately wants to help him, the strain of the relationship soon begins to take its toll. Just as their relationship deepens, Charlie discovers a secret that threatens to fracture their connection.
A particular hookup app is central to how the pair meet, with both characters giving their own version of that first encounter. What starts as sex in the back of a car soon develops into something neither of them expected.
Charlie sees something different in Jude, while Jude, wanting a deeper connection, seems to fall for him surprisingly quickly. Before long, they are sharing a bedroom, laughing together while watching ‘The Chase’ and joking about the now viral ‘Fanny Schmeler’ meme. It is a rare moment of lightness and, notably, the only real laugh the show gets from its audience. The mood quickly shifts when Jude needs another cocaine fix. Charlie reminds him that he has had enough, but Jude ignores him, immediately taking more.
Before long, Charlie is dressing Jude for work and cleaning their shared bedroom after he leaves. When Jude returns that evening, Charlie checks his phone and discovers he has been using another hookup app. We are never really given a reason for why Charlie feels the need to check his phone, but the moment makes it clear that cracks are already beginning to show in their relationship. Charlie’s discovery quickly turns to anger, and from here the relationship becomes a vicious cycle of love, distrust and addiction. Jude’s struggles eventually spiral into a suicide attempt, only for Charlie to find him.
Although we hear both sides of how they met, the pace feels rushed, meaning there is very little time for the audience to actually get to know either character, clearly hampered by the one-hour running time. The introduction of drug use so soon after their meeting therefore feels particularly harsh. From the outset, we are told this is unlikely to have a happy ending, and there is very little light relief once the darker themes take hold.
That consistently bleak tone does reflect the very real struggles surrounding addiction and relationships, and the production certainly doesn’t shy away from difficult subject matter. There is a lot of music throughout the piece, and initially it adds another layer to the story, particularly during the transitions. One of the most effective moments comes when Charlie helps Jude get dressed for the day. With no dialogue, Taylor Swift’s ‘Loml’ plays underneath the scene, creating a gorgeous and intimate moment between the two characters and helping the audience with their connection to the characters.
However, another song follows almost immediately as Jude tidies the room, diluting the impact of the first. As the play continues, the frequency of the music begins to feel excessive, with the expectation that another song is always just around the corner. Rather than enhancing the dialogue, it interrupts the flow of the piece. Used more sparingly, the music could have had greater impact while also allowing the dialogue and characters more room to develop and breathe.
Both actors portray their characters’ struggles convincingly, but the script does not always allow for enough emotional variety. Jude is almost constantly consumed by drugs, leaving little opportunity to see the person behind his addiction. Charlie is given slightly more freedom, allowing us to see the conflict of loving someone while also becoming their carer and being relied upon.
Charlie’s decision to eventually leave, followed by his desire to return, is particularly effective in highlighting the complexities of abusive relationships. It captures the reality that love and harm can exist alongside one another, and that leaving is rarely as simple as making a decision. The back-and-forth between them reflects the complicated nature of love and the emotional ties that can keep people trapped in relationships that are ultimately damaging.
There is clearly an important story at the heart of this production, and both actors bring genuine commitment to difficult material. However, the rushed pacing, lack of emotional connection to either character, limited emotional range and overuse of music prevent the relationship from having the impact it could. The production has moments of real intimacy, but ultimately leaves the audience with too little opportunity to connect with its characters beyond their struggles, not really caring enough for either of them.
★★
Gifted ticket in exchange for an honest review.