Tom Stoppard's classic 1980s script isn't quite done justice here. Certainly, there's strong acting from the romantic leads Henry and Annie, played by Nick Cheadle and Niamh Spurr – Cheadle's performance is expecially noteworthy for his physical expressiveness as an idiosyncratic, over-analytical playwright. However, he never quite musters up the vulnerability that would allow us to relate to him as the emotional centre of the play.
Still more problematic is Kyra Boyer's portrayal of Charlotte. It's so lacking in vitality that it saps the energy from every scene she's in. There are, however, refreshingly dynamic performances from young actor Joshua Lim and (though featured to a lesser degree) newcomer Grace Roberts. This mixed bag of talents delivers a production that's definitely watchable, but clearly compromised – it's in the nature of this play that every actor matters.