Hannah and Cain are broke, jobless and are lacking any real direction - but at least they have each other to muddle through life with. Hannah played magnificently by Izzy Lim is a whirlwind of unbounded energy, abbreviates most of her dialogue and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. However, beneath her tough bravado filled exterior, Hannah is just a fragile little girl who longs to make it as an actress. No Hopers is a Fringe production that questions what lengths a person is willing to go to earn a little extra money. Would you be willing to compromise your morals and integrity whilst trampling on those you are supposed to care about the most?
Firmly rooted in 2014, No Hopers' modern present day context couldn’t be easily forgotten with the abundance, bordering on excessive use of contemporary references. The young couple are suffering from a severe bout of post-university blues. During a therapy session Hannah questions how her peers seem to be so much better at coping with being a grown up then she is. Struggling to survive on their joint job seekers allowance, both Hannah and Cain (Jumaane Brown) resort to some rather unconventional means to make ends meet, Hannah strays into the world of phone sex - a digression complete with an exaggerated chinese accent showcased Lim’s natural comedic talent. Cain on the other hand is seduced by the chance to earn an easy £3,000 by attending Flu Camp. With Cain away at Flu Camp, and Hannah acting in an educational tour of Snow White, the pair are forced to spend time apart. A separation that disastrously alters the course of Hannah and Cain’s relationship.
At times No Hopers felt very busy, almost as if writers Rob Skinner and Daisy-May Pattison-Corney had tried to cram too many complex subject matters into a play that was already thematically bursting at the seams. That said, there’s a lot to like in the work. For instance the female lead was presented in such a multi-faceted and believable manner that I felt sure that she simply must be based on a person from the writers‘ own lives. The role was brought to life exquisitely by Lim, whose frantic yet fragile nervous breakdown made for some truly tender moments.
Alongside the two protagonists the rest of the ensemble each play three or four small parts. Multiple roles enable the group to showcase their versatility as actors. I particularly enjoyed the stark difference between mellow struggling artist Sam and over zealous theatrical Nathan- both of which were played with utter conviction by redhead Andrew Lavelle.
It may have been due to the extreme heat and lack of air at the Dogstar in Brixton, but at two and half hours, No Hopers felt quite long. I think it could do with a little tightening in parts and a few of the more demonstrative scenes could easily be shaved off. That said, No Hopers is gritty, topical and stayed true to the spirit of Fringe theatre
No Hopers was playing at the Dogstar in Brixton 22-24th of July for details of future tour dates visit www.imaginaryfriendstheatre.com
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