Kindling – Park Theatre
Per the final wishes of a dead mutual friend, five very different perimenopausal women come together for a camping trip in Wales.
The set design by Abi Groves goes a long way to make the play really feel like an authentic camping trip. The entire floor of the stage is covered with plant litter and woodland detritus. As the actors move around, they kick up leaves and twigs, creating realistic sound. The stage quickly becomes cluttered with tents, camping chairs, rucksacks, Ikea bags, and Tupperware, all haphazardly scattered around. The design immediately and evocatively captures the essence of a camping trip with friends.
Not everything is as effective as the set design; some issue with the script and direction hold the play back in the earlier scenes. Some characters are presented a...