Mike Bartlett’s Unicorn, which has now opened at the Garrick Theatre in London, is a bold and thought-provoking exploration of modern relationships. Directed by James Macdonald it takes unexpected twists and turns, keeping the audience permanently intrigued.
Known for his incisive takes on contemporary issues, Bartlett delves into the complexities of polyamory through the lens of Polly and Nick, a couple yearning to reignite their spark. The play’s title nods to its exploration of a “unicorn”—a term in polyamory for a third partner who joins an established couple. In this case that’s Kate, Polly’s much younger student.
Bartlett’s razor-sharp dialogue and Macdonald’s deft direction ensure that this provocative piece balances the dispelling of stereotypes with nuances of such relationships. Notions of car keys in a bowl and pampas grass are firmly thrown out in favour of an honest portrayal of alternative relationships.
The script is also incredibly funny, an everyday kind of humour that the audience picks up easily and enjoys heartily. Perhaps not surprising for a Mike Bartlett play, Unicorn eventually becomes less about the state of the relationship, and more of a state of the nation play. Focussing not only on how modern Britain copes with different lifestyles, but also how it’s (not) coping with societal change.
Nicola Walker and Stephen Mangan as Polly and Nick excel in the roles of a couple where the relationship has lost its spark. There easy, naturalistic style endears them to the audience. Erin Doherty revels in the more interesting character of Kate, playing with the concept of a younger yet more dominant dynamic of the relationship.
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Miriam Buether’s minimalistic stage design places the characters in a structure resembling a snow globe, and along with Natasha Chivers lighting design, it reminds us that we’re only ever sneaking peeks at these three lives. Although Act I of Unicorn takes a little too long to get to the crux of the matter, the second Act moves at a better pace, and opens up the themes of longing and transformation that makes this a modern play that’s deeply thought provoking and surprisingly funny.
