A complicated and darkly funny portrayal of brotherly bonds
Set in 1983 Northern Philadelphia, Lyle Kessler’s Orphans centres on twenty-eight-year old Phillip and his older brother Treat, whose insular world is disrupted when an unassuming stranger with a hidden agenda enters their lives. Directed by Al Miller, the action takes place in the down-trodden row house the brothers live in, writes Evie Flynn.
With no parental figures, Phillip’s world has always been run by Treat (Chris Walley). Phillip (Fred Woodley Evans) has not left the house in years due to an irrational fear of having a deadly allergic reaction to the outside air. Yet, to Treat’s horror, he’s been secretly educating himself with the aid of the Philadelphia Inquirer and classic novels.
Nevertheless, Phillip has been infantilised by Treat, but loves him in a weird, Stockholm Syndrome-type of way because, even though Treat is certainly cruel and temperamental, he also has a soft side.
To keep a roof over their heads, Treat is involved in petty crime, which you can sense is not going to end well. The brothers’ world eventually crashes when Harold, himself an orphan, enters their lives after Treat attempts to kidnap him for ransom money. Harold (Forbes Masson) becomes the perfect mix of irritating and charming. He evolves as a surrogate father figure to the brothers, but maybe he does more harm than good to their unimaginative way of living.
It was, though, difficult to place the decade as there were few onstage clues alluding to the 1980s. Had I not known the setting from the programme notes I would not have guessed the era. This is not a flaw, instead it reinforces the idea that the outside world has little impact on the brothers’ self-contained environment.
The actors had near-perfect Philly accents and the physicality of the acting really stood out, perfectly portrayed through multiple incidents where all three actors are lunging at each other.
The scene fades and the clever use of music and sound effects create the sense that we are witnessing the passing of time. Plus, with only a 70-seat capacity, the intimate Jermyn Street Theatre makes it feel like we are in the room with the unlikely trio.
Orphans is a thought-provoking exploration of urban mundanity, the lure of anger and justice and how strangers we meet along the way can change everything.
Jermyn Street Theatre until 24th January.
Tickets £25 each.
Booking and full details: https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/orphans/
