A NIGHT WITH JEAN PAUL is a brilliant collision of Oscar Wilde's wit and the modern-day social battlegrounds akin to 'Keeping Up with the Joneses'. Rachel Howard's daring script fearlessly lampoons the very industry it inhabits, delivering a cascade of short, snappy, and self-aware dialogue that keeps the audience captivated. The banter between frenemies is a sheer joy to behold.

The ensemble cast, led by Howard as Sylvia and Connor Burns as Redmund, is a masterclass in slick and sharp acting. Each scene feels like a verbal boxing match, with performers delivering punches of dialogue that never miss their mark. The tensions between characters escalate at breakneck speed, particularly in the dynamic between Burns and the uproariously camp Peter Gibson, who portrays THE Bert Adams.

Zara Marie Brown's direction utilises the space to its full potential, allowing each character to chew the scenery with every step. The set, while simple, proves to be incredibly effective. A Chesterfield couch, chairs, coffee tables, and strategic callbacks to Shakespeare, create an atmosphere well-suited for the nighttime flow of verbal daggers and high jinx.

What sets this play apart is the contrast in how the genders engage in their battles. Howard and Deborah Elizabeth's performances are rife with snide remarks and sly comments, providing a fascinating counterpoint to the more overt clashes between the men. Elizabeth plays the perfect counterpart to Howard. As secrets are revealed, friendships mended, and feuds solidified, the 'heroes' Red and Sylvia find themselves once again leaning on each other.

Just when you think you've weathered enough emotional whiplash, Howard and Burns deliver a sweet and sincere ending that defies all established conventions of the piece. Burns and Howard's ending is a breath of fresh air, offering a poignant respite from the war zone that the two actors ingeniously construct from the get-go.

Written By, Jordan Barkley