A Slow Fire Review: Hope in Postapocalyptic Bunker Drama

Simon Stephens' play "A Slow Fire" is currently being performed at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London, offering a postapocalyptic drama centered on two men sheltering in a bunker. The intimate setting of the basement theatre is described as perfectly suited for this Beckettian tale, which explores themes of memory, companionship, and survival in the aftermath of an unnamed global catastrophe. The characters, Ashton, portrayed by Ross Gaynor, and Reece, played by Ian Toner, are presented as potentially the last two men on Earth. Their existence is characterized by repetition: they spend their days rehearsing the same stories, occasionally singing, and perpetually waiting, though the object of their anticipation remains undefined. This waiting and repetition echo the existential themes found in the works of Samuel Beckett, whose plays have also been staged at this venue.

The core distinction between Stephens' characters and those of Beckett, as noted in the review, lies in the emphasis on hope over despair, although the play acknowledges moments where these two emotions converge. Ashton and Reece engage in memory games, seemingly reenacting scenes from their past lives. These recalled moments are imbued with optimism and significant life events, including declarations of love, poignant interactions between father and son, and the announcement of a pregnancy. One character is identified as a porter, and the other as a professor, individuals who might have had little in common in ordinary circumstances. However, within the confines of their bunker, they evolve into vessels for each other's most cherished memories, creating a shared repository of their former existence.

The play runs at Jermyn Street Theatre, London, until September 26. The review highlights that the performances by Ross Gaynor and Ian Toner are intelligent, but the overall tension within the drama is noted as being light. The narrative focuses on the psychological and emotional landscape of survival rather than external conflict or immediate danger. The setting of the Jermyn Street Theatre, a venue known for hosting intimate and thought-provoking productions, further enhances the claustrophobic yet reflective atmosphere of the play. The unnamed global catastrophe serves as a backdrop, allowing Stephens to delve into the human condition when stripped bare of societal structures and comforts, focusing instead on the fundamental need for connection and the enduring power of memory. The play's exploration of hope in such dire circumstances provides a unique angle on the postapocalyptic genre, suggesting that even in the face of total devastation, the human spirit can find ways to sustain itself through shared experiences and recollections of a life that once was.