Treats

Christopher Hampton’s classic play Treats is currently showing at the Garrick Theatre on Charring Cross Road, Starring Dr Who actress Billie Piper alongside My Family’s Kris Marshall and The Hole star Laurence Fox, it is the tale of a love triangle between Ann (Piper), a translator, her co worker and live in boyfriend Patrick (Fox) and Ann’s ex; alcoholic womanising journalist Dave (Marshall)

The stage is designed well, as are the lights and sound. Creating a genuine sense of Ann’s flat, the choice of songs throughout the play also work well in suggesting the emotions that the characters might be experiencing. This however is where the positives end.

Treats is anything but a treat to watch, with over acting from Kris Marshall and Billie Piper doing little to assist a confusing script which alienates the majority of the audience and direction which was so poor the actors were unsure of how they should really be feeling from scene to scene.

With actors and audience baffled alike, I would strongly recommend avoiding treats, as it will leave you asking questions such as “Why did I spend my money on that?”