There’s no Higher Power, just two actors giving a high-power performance
I’ve been excited about this ever since securing a ticket. Just seeing the names Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden in David Ireland’s two-hander The Fifth Step was enough for me, writes Michael Holland.
I wanted to see these two battle it out in the round, squaring up to each other in the boxing ring of blue light, and the battle began straightaway when Luka (Lowden) said to his AA sponsor James(Freeman), ‘I think I might be an incel.’
He’s not, he’s a lonely alcoholic seeking help from those who should understand him.
Luka is twitchy while James is calm, professional and over 20 years clean. James has seen everything before.
Their Step One is Honesty and Luka lets rip with both barrels blazing in short, sharp, shocking sentences. James responds with a look of shock and words of understanding. They find common ground in film and Luka does a mean impression of De Niro in Raging Bull. They discuss their atheism and how AA uses a form of god in their programme, something James has struggled with and overcome with Buddhism, while Luka is adamant that he will be having no ‘spiritual awakening’.
Step Two is Faith; believing in yourself to beat the addiction. James convinces Luka to cut down on his eye-watering masturbation quota and put that time and energy into the gym. He listens and learns from his sponsor and we soon see him less shaky, more confident.
Luke surrenders himself to Step Three but sees Jesus on the gym treadmill and dreams about James. He is now a regular at church and attends Bible studies. His life improves and he finds a woman friend: ‘Not a girlfriend, more an arrangement…’ He quotes Bible verses but James is not happy at how things are going.
Step Four is self-examination and it is James who doesn’t like what he sees. Their relationship is souring, there are now silences in the non-stop battle of words and those gaps are filled with staring and stalking each other around the ring. There is more tension but that is broken up with comedy – Laugh out loud lines that come mainly from the ignorance and youthfulness of Luka.
The Fifth Step is confessional, revealing past events and secrets that first triggered the drinking problem. A change takes the form of Luka being more calm and James being paranoid and untrusting. There is the worry of a relapse or two as they fight it out to the very clever end that takes our mind off their futures, James’ wife, the #metoo rumours and what can be found in a coffee cup.
David Ireland’s play delves into the hypocrisy of the church, and the abuse of power but is not so much about Alcoholics Anonymous, faith, or addiction but about men’s insecurities, and Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden do a brilliant job of it. There’s no Higher Power, just two actors giving a high-power performance.
Soho Place, 4, Charing Cross Road, W1D 3BG until 26th July. Admission: £15 – £95.
Booking and full details: https://sohoplace.org/shows/the-fifth-step/
