The Habits, Hampstead Theatre Review
Paul Thornley as Dennis, Ruby Stokes as Jess and Debra Baker as Bev in The Habits. Photo by Genevieve Girling
Written by Becky K for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
“I’m not looking at getting into a serious game right now”… Dungeons and Dragons themed The Habits has opened at Hampstead Theatre. Packed with wit, charm and nuance, award-winner writer and director, Jack Bradfield’s latest text is a successful exploration of human relationships and anxieties wrapped up in a fantasy role playing setting, and no, you don’t have to be a fan of Dungeons and Dragons to enjoy this!
Set in the round, the scene takes you in to the intimate space of Dennis’ quiet board-game café. Jess, Maryn and Milo meet up every Thursday to take on the quest to defeat the Nightmare King. To Jess, it’s more than just a game, but a continuation of her late brother’s legacy as they participate in the world in which he created. Touched by Jess’ commitment to the game, Dennis prolongs the closure of his shop to join in and facilitate the ending of their quest as they battle with the chances of the twenty-sided dice.
The character exploration from director Ed Madden is brilliantly executed, as through the lens of play, each character’s anxieties are discovered. From Milo’s lack of confidence in finding a job to Jess’ struggles with the concept of death within the game, Madden finds a way to blur the line between fantasy and reality easily. Strong performances from the cast, especially from Ruby Stokes (Jess) and Jamie Bisping (Milo) helped to build upon the world of the Nightmare Kingdom, bouncing off each other nicely to demonstrate the relationship dynamics of the characters outside of the game.
Madden also lands the humour of the text really well. Bar the climax of the play, there is never a prolonged moment without a sarcastic comment or relatable gaming joke. Particularly audience favourites included Dennis’ revelation that he used to specialise in ‘larp’ (live action role-play), as well as the ongoing distaste in monopoly, which were met with relatable giggles from the audience. On top of their great coming timing, it was also endearing to see the actors put on silly and dramatised voices for their Dungeons and Dragons characters, which emphasised the Youthful enthusiasm of their characters.
On at Hampstead Theatre until 5th April, The Habits is an engrossing ninety-minute production that has you invested in the game, whether you’re a fan of fantasy or not.
★ ★ ★ ★
