Critic Patrick Marmion has opted not to award any stars to the Almeida Theatre's revival of Sarah Kane's 1998 play, "Cleansed," citing its graphic depiction of sex and depravity. In his review for the Daily Mail, Marmion described the production as "bleak and brutal," noting that its exhaustive trigger warnings barely prepare audiences for the intensity of the content, which includes a scene of sexual assault and a syringe jabbed into an eyeball.
Marmion stated he could not "honestly justify recommending it to anyone as a good night out," despite acknowledging the strength of the acting. He noted that the play, which runs until August 29, deals with themes of torture and psychotic disintegration, portraying a "desperate, gruesome search for love and redemption" amidst relentless brutality.
The production, directed by Rebecca Frecknall, features a set resembling a hospital corridor. Actors, including Leo Bill as a sadistic physician, Pearl Chanda and Jack Riddiford as tormented siblings, and Luke Cinque-White and Parth Thakerar as a persecuted gay couple, are tasked with simulating intense physical and mental distress. Marmion also noted the tragic suicide of author Sarah Kane the year after she wrote "Cleansed."
In contrast, Marmion awarded four out of five stars to "The Importance Of Being Oscar" at the Park Theatre, a one-man show celebrating the life and work of Oscar Wilde. The production, starring Alastair Whatley and directed by Michael Fentiman, is a revival of a 1960 tribute. Marmion praised Whatley's performance for weaving together Wilde's poems, plays, and later writings, including passages from "De Profundis" and "The Ballad of Reading Gaol," which followed Wilde's conviction for gross indecency.
Whatley's portrayal offers a nuanced vision of Wilde, blending the antique and the modern, framed by lighting that suggests dressing room mirrors. "The Importance Of Being Oscar" runs until August 22.