The Retreat – Finborough Theatre

Jason Sherman’s The Retreat follows the dreams of Rachel (Jill Winternitz), a Hebrew school teacher whose passion for writing was re-enlightened from a dare to try one more time. After being accepted on a writer’s retreat led by an independent film production studio, David (Max Rinehart) falls in love with her script about a false Messiah but upon her arrival falls in love with her too. David’s business partner Jeff (Michael Feldsher) is wrapped up in the current obsession of slashers knowing it’ll help expand their business but David can’t get behind work he doesn’t feel passionate about and walks away from Jeff to help produce Rachel’s script. In an effort to bring David back, Jeff meddles with Rachel’s script to see if she is a wannabe writer or a true writer at heart. Rachel becomes victim of two male egos and sees the worst of the industry almost immediately into her writing career that halts her dream completely, turning out to be a play based on her father’s (Jonathan Tafler) journey to Canada during World War 2.

Originally written in the 1997, this play still has relevance today. Rachel is a great symbol of new talent in the industry being devalued and used for sport. Although David had a connection with Rachel, he is already married and in a cycle of heartbreak of which both parties incite envy to spark up their lives again. Rachel is devalued as a writer as soon as she walks into the room, David admitting she is ‘not what he was expecting’ which gives her an opportunity to have one-to-one training but always with an expectation of a ‘thank you’. Although Rachel has strong feelings and believes for a second that she might be this special exception, shot into stardom with her script and David by her side it is quickly derailed with Jeff’s entrance into the Retreat. He toys with her, giving her terrible ideas just to see if she will write them in to prove she is a wannabe who sets out to please, completely changing her script and ruining the story she created. Jeff holds a read through, watching David painfully flicking through to finally reveal his motives and give him the option to stay or walk away from the company. Rachel lost both her story of her father and her dignity for falling in love with a liar.

The actors have skilfully brought these characters to life and toyed with the tension of new romance and hidden agendas. Although there are a mix of very short to very long scenes, it is nice to feel privy to moments that are often skipped; like the awkward conversation at dinner or watching Rachel speak passionately whilst David stares. In building this tension slowly, we earn the sudden romance and also respect Rachel in that she was really seduced by him. This alone made Rachel the victim from the beginning, any shorter and I’d worry there’s risk that she could be judged- Rachel is naive of course but here we had time to understand her choices. Blaming Rachel for simply showing up and being given all this opportunity doesn’t make her guilty, it makes David guilty for manipulation. This is doubled when Jeff becomes involved, and we quickly spiral into a hole with Rachel which feels really uncomfortable and upsetting.

Amidst this, the actors have great ability to bounce us into humour and help us along the way. Although running at a long 2 hours 30 mins we are very much present with their moment to moment, this play is filled with conflicts and very human relationships that I always felt compelled to watch.

Perhaps this play is slightly dated however it is unfortunate that the themes still feel relevant today. A very human play and at the centre, a woman who I wish nothing but independent success to.

Playing until 13th May 2022, https://finboroughtheatre.co.uk/production/the-retreat/

Reviewer: Alice Rose

Reviewed: 29th April 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★