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Ruthless People: Ruthless - Arches Lane Theatre

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What is it about the Madoff’s that writers can’t resist writing about? Sure, it may have been the largest Ponzi scheme to collapse (so far), but there isn’t much more to explore. Or is there? In Ruthless by writer Roger Steinmann, Ruth Madoff is imagined as a wronged, gun-toting woman anchored in the past while trying to move on with her life. It’s not entirely successful but a fascinating look at life and wig choices, It’s currently playing at the theatre now known as the Arches Lane Theatre in Battersea. Ruth Madoff, played by Emily Swain, is here wearing a wig. I thought it was an odd look until I reviewed how closely it matched the photo of her interview in  The New York Times .  Typically, it’s the sort of wig you might see worn by Ladies on a night out in central London, not someone who once had over $80m in assets. With Bernie in Jail and both her sons now dead - one by suicide and one due to cancer, she is setting a table for the men who have left her. And ordering p...

Take me to the world: Hide and Seek @parktheatre

Photo of actors Louis Scarpa and Nico Cetrulo

In a small town where everyone knows everyone, if you don't like it, you might feel that the only logical thing to do is to disappear. Especially if you think it will help your social media rankings. The loneliness and isolation of youth meet influencers in the wild in Tobia Rossi's Hide and Seek. And while events take a darker turn, the humour and the intimacy make this piece about youth on the edge (of trending) fascinating and enjoyable. It's currently playing at Park Theatre. 

Mirko (Nico Cetrulo) is exploring a cave with his camera when he stumbles on Gio (Louis Scarpa). Gio has been missing for a while, and the town has been looking for him. But Gio is more interested in how much he is trending on TikTok. He also had a crush on Mirko. Soon, they establish a friendship and a bond. In the cave, they explore feelings they would not dare share outside. However, things turn darker when Gio is confident enough to leave the cave, while Mirko doesn't want his double life to be exposed. 

Photo of actor Louis Scarpa

It's an engaging piece thanks to the chemistry of the two leads, which give the piece an, at times, breathtaking hormone-induced energy while conveying the tenderness of two lost young men in the woods. 

Constance Comparot's set is simple yet effective, giving the sense of an alien chasm and a refuge from the outside world. And Alex Forey's lighting fills the story with darkness and shadows.

In some parts, I struggled to relate to the piece. For instance, if I were in a cave with a hot guy and it had been a while since I last had a shower, I wouldn't need him to tell me to use wet wipes. But Tobia Rossi's story captures many contradictions of being young, trying to fit in, and finding out who you are. Its humour and everyday references make the ending feel more tragic, highlighting that evil comes from the banalest of motivations. 

Translated and directed by Carlotta Brentan, Hide and Seek continues at Park Theatre until 30 March, after being seen in the UK at the Vault Festival in 2023. Opening the week the Vault Festival announced its permanent closure is a fitting reminder of the festival's value to London over its twelve years of existence. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photo of actors Louis Scarpa and Nico Cetrulo


Photos: Mariano Gobbi

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