The promise of a gay love story told across the multiverse is a potentially big ask, but The Silver Bell by Alan Flanagan delivers that and more.
Starting as a witty hit by hit of our leads’, Mico and James, relationship and how they ended up in London, with Mico working as a scientist at Imperial and James trying to find success as an actor. Flanagan both wrote the piece and stars as Mico, “the bottom with power”, opposite Brendan O’Rourke as his boyfriend James. Flanagan’s performance is just brilliant to watch, delivering a shy, understated guy who warms up to the audience well throughout the piece – he really is the heart and soul of it.
The comedy is spot on throughout the show, even in the darker moments. It delivers both in its writing and delivery as the pair have a remarkable comedic chemistry which just keeps pacing through the entire show. Indeed, the pair’s chemistry in dramatic moments brings out moments of tenderness and anger in a way that really builds the story. They are so physically in tune that they are able to smoothly perform many trust falls throughout the show, really showing the amazing polish of the piece.
As the show progresses, we see James develop Motor Neuron Disease (MND), as Mico becomes his carer. Upon James’ death we discover that Mico’s science experiments have proved that multiple universes exist, and he finds a way to transport between them, ripping his way through them to find James again. And it has to be his James – not a straight James or married James or a hipster James – just without the MND.
This is where O’Rourke’s performance really hits its stride – his ability to immediately caricature the various Jameses is superb, his portrayal of the feelings of a man losing his ability to care for himself or even move is sensitive and raw. It’s gorgeous to watch the pair lead each other to the end of the story, as James tries to get through to Mico about the flaws in his plan.
A play about multiple universes but no set could have easily become confusing, but the genius idea of having a pull-cord light switch signal the change between universes, accompanied by a change in lighting colour, designed by Amy Hill, truly makes the piece. It allowed them to jump through many different universes quickly but clearly – no need for a hundred quick set or costume changes.
Shows about caring and losing those with illness and disability, particularly those which are terminal, incurable or otherwise permanent, can often fall into the trap of spending so much time hating the disease they fail to consider those living with it as part of their every day life. The Silver Bell hits the nail on the head – James calls out Mico for automatically discounting every James with MND as an option – he points out that caring for someone is perhaps the biggest act of love you can do, and Mico has the chance to do that again and again.
Finishing with a beautiful rhythmic dance of different balancing poses, as Mico catches James again and again, to “Never Forget You” by Noisettes was the perfect, most beautiful ending of the show. Every aspect of this play, from the drama to the comedy, from the sci-fi to the romance, was impeccable- my biggest disappointment being that I couldn’t watch it again and again.
VAULT Festival 2023 runs Tuesday 24th January to Sunday 19th March, full listings and ticket information can be found here.
This review was written by a participant of the VAULT Festival New Critics Programme in partnership with Theatre Weekly. For more information about the VAULT Festival New Critics Programme, and all of our 2023 participants, please visit: https://vaultfestival.com/new-critics-programme/
