Does it hurt?
Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries tells the story of Doug and Kayleen who meet in the school nurse’s office with their ailments and the words, ‘Does it hurt?’, writes Sarah Munsi.
Doug has ridden his bike off the roof and Kayleen has a stomach ache. From there, and over the next 30 years, we watch the ups and downs of their relationship as they come to terms with life’s bruises, scars and their feelings. We see Doug and Kayleen transform from being stubborn and clumsy kids to pulling through hard times and being there for each other no matter what.
Does it hurt? is the question that stood a lot out for me. It brings you back to the days of the school playground with children worrying about the pain an injury has caused and what affect it has. The play does a deep dive into those scars and how Doug and Kayleen deal with them, as well as what effect those wounds have on their relationship.
Throughout the performance, lightbulbs flickered on and off, showing the distance between Doug and Kayleen as they dealt with death, mental health and love. The intimate space gave the characters a closeness in which the audience could feel the raw emotions being explored between them.
Both actors understood the roles they had to play and performed them beautifully under the direction of Max Kirk: Kayleen, played by Katie Matsell, a shy and timid person who would never talk about her true feeings, and Doug(Seb Carrington), a child at heart but who could adapt to any situation, discuss it and freely admit fault. Their different personalities gave them something to bounce off and added balance to the play.
In this thoroughly enjoyable performance there were elements of humour that worked well and scenes which were touching and heartfelt. Some parts, however, I felt were too complex.
The Glitch, 134 Lower Marsh, London, SE1 7AE until 24th March. Wed – Mon 19.00, Sat 14.00 & 19.00.
Ticket Information: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/vaultcreativearts/1555319
