Kerry Jackson at the National Theatre

While writer April De Angelis’s Kerry Jackson is off to a good start with a strong premise, a lack of dedication to exploring the more fundamental aspects of its setup forbids it from becoming excellent. The production, cast and good humour in the writing still go miles to make this a thoroughly enjoyable experience, but the show carries a slight air of disappointment as the conclusive moments are reached.

Kerry (Fay Ripley), a working-class woman who has gathered enough money to open a would-be Spanish restaurant in gentrified Walthamstow, falls in love with Stephen (Michael Gould), who teaches philosophy at university. At first, it seems their love manages to bridge the gap between her right and his left-leaning views, but when she fails to feel sympathy for the death of homeless person Will (Michael Fox), their differences become overpowering.

The issue with the piece is largely that all viewpoints remain on the surface. There is no deeper exchange of ideas, which in turn is reflected in the fact that there is a lack of character development. Vague opinions are proposed, but never contested; there is no actual outlining of why the characters believe what they believe, at least not beyond issues of where they happen to come from. This is a pity: the premise seems to indicate some form of understanding on both sides, but ultimately it doesn’t end up saying much at all.

Thankfully, the comedy is top-notch. With one witty line after the other, Kerry is a volcano of energy, and Ripley’s portrayal is virtually flawless. Hers is not an easy character to portray, but she steals the show whenever she’s on stage. Her chemistry with Gould is also excellent; their banter is lovely, and while it’s a pity that this isn’t examined more closely, it is still one of the stronger aspects of this show.

Director Indhu Rubasingham’s production is also fantastic, featuring stunning sets and costumes by Richard Kent with gorgeous detail that hit the mark exactly. All this together does make for a show that is sure to please the audience. A little refinement to highlight the stakes more in-depth, rather than in breadth, would work wonders to make this a remarkable piece of theatre.

Michael Higgs
Image: Marc Brenner

Kerry Jackson is at the National Theatre from 6^th December until 28^th January 2023. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.