REVIEW | The Boy, Soho Theatre
Written by Bronagh
*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
The Boy follows the story of a man and a boy, travelling by bus from an unnamed country and navigating life before and after gaining refugee status, and the complications that come with starting a new life.
The Boy is slightly strange watching, given what is going on in the world and it is hard to not think about the plight ahead of some as they flee war zones. I found it slightly frustrating that The Boy showed the man and the boy getting refugee status so quickly, given the actual state of the asylum system and the length of time it realistically takes to get to this point. They don’t appear to be isolated or victims of racism, which is an unfortunate reality for a lot of refugees. Not to say The Boy should have revolved around these issues, and it is a change from the way migrant stories are usually told, but it does feel like a big chunk of reality was neglected.
The script was good and moved along well. It wasn’t overly complicated, mainly in the present time with some flashbacks. A lot happens throughout the 70 minutes; refugee status granted, moving accommodation and one attempt at returning to their home country. The plot ticked along nicely while allowing the characters to develop and watch as their lives intertwined with one another. Some more backstory to the characters would have been a welcome addition, even down to which country the boy and the man were leaving and which country they ended up in. I assume that they moved to the UK, but this was rather fuzzy.
The boy, played by Eve von Elgg, was a captivating watch with youthful charm and curiosity really captured brilliantly. It is hard to believe that this is von Elgg’s professional debut, they really do put on a great performance. The man, played by Jerome Ngonadi, shows the challenges faced as a single guardian navigating life in a new country, trying to gain employment, and wanting the best for the boy. Shereen Roushbaiani switches between playing the man’s employer and later co-parenting Liz, the case worker and social worker marvellously. Her performance as Liz is especially compelling, touching on the difficult subject of child loss.
Overall The Boy is a hopeful tale and a good watch, given that generally migrant stories that we hear are bleak. I would have liked to have seen some more engagement and exploration of realistic refugee experiences; however, I did like how the characters came to life and felt believable. Migrant stories are ones that should be told; The Boy was poignant and charming in places, but could have gone a lot deeper.
At the Soho Theatre until the 4th November 2023.
★ ★ ★
