UK Theatre Network

Richard Parker Review by Rick Allden 

An hour long play consisting of two actors and two benches might sound like the typical small scale, wry-smile, nice but forgettable production that theatre is so often deluged with.   Not so.  Richard Parker is a genuinely stand-out work that shows us how theatre should really be.

A play concerning the nature of coincidence and one man’s absolute faith in it, Owen Thomas’ script is absolutely first rate.  His skilful crafting leads the two characters a merry dance between light and shade with never a word wasted.   The ability to flit between hilarity and tragedy is not an easy one to master, but with Richard Parker Thomas has proved himself extremely adept.

The actors, Alistair Sill and Gareth Bale (who also directed) make up the happy triumvirate, and both delivered exceptionally believable, and comic, performances; Alistair as the increasingly agitated victim, and Gareth as the menacing force controlling their fate.  The writing is skilful but that is not to do away with the complete knowledge and power with which these two actors wield it.

A palpable wave of excitement washed over the privileged audience at Richard Parker’s conclusion, and it would be folly to expect him to disappear.