The Tinker – VAULT Festival

In the middle of the night, as a storm rages all around, there is a sudden knock on your door. A man in ragged clothes seeks shelter for the evening – do you let him in?

Frank (Keon Martial-Phillip) and Evelyn (Lauren O’Leary) left the big city and moved to a distant rural home to take over the day-to-day running of the family whiskey business. The house is described as built for company, but it feels cold and impersonal. There are hints of love and warmth between the couple, but they are bogged down with distance and loss which threatens to overwhelm them as they seek solace following the disappearance of their only child. It is only in brief moments we see their love through the tangle and depression, almost as if they both know their relationship is broken but have made an active decision to move and fix their marriage. There is a stilted chemistry between the two actors which brings across the unease in their relationship.

Outside is a cold and miserable night as a storm rages. All through the production, we hear the wind as the storm persists. A knock at the door brings the title character (Giles Abbott) seeking shelter. Initially let in to warm himself by the fire being sent to the barn to sleep, this wanderer tells the couple how he makes his living, with them seemingly oblivious to his real meaning as he talks of telling ‘honey’ and using his words to earn money. Sometime later he mentions the young boy, his apprentice, sleeping in the barn with the horses. Abbott’s background as a storyteller shines through here with a wonderful delivery suggesting charm and leaving a hint of chicanery always in the background.

There are a lot of threads left hanging within this story for the audience to ponder. Initially, there is a suggestion that Frank may bear some responsibility for the disappearance of their son but then there is also a suggestion that he might know more – he might know for a fact that their son is dead but has kept this from his wife. Alongside these threads are undercurrents to suggest that all might not be as it seems. How much does the Tinker actually know of the couple, was this really a chance encounter? Is he dripping honey or poison into their ears? Who is the boy that accompanies him? There are not many clear answers given which builds an atmosphere of tension, distrust and unease that the cast and director, Olivia Munk, conjure up well but do leave the evening somewhat unfulfilled.

With the sound of the ongoing storm and a period set showing a comfortable living room with a piano, fireplace and drinks trolley, The Tinker brings an atmosphere of almost gothic horror. A ghostly or supernatural event would fit perfectly here, and I find myself wondering if the Tinker existed, or perhaps he is some sort of malevolent spirit – or possibly even something less nefarious, was he there to bring a child back and to help the couple rebuild?

The Tinker makes for an entertaining evening and is full of potential, points feel like this might be a work in progress and a little tightening up would allow the talented team behind this to make something really great.

Reviewer: Dave Smith

Reviewed: 19th February 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★