Thanks For Having Me by Keelan Kember - ★★★☆☆
Modern day dating, for many, has become an obstacle course of undefined titles, mismanaged feelings and a whole lot of “what even is this”? It can often feel as though everyone is looking for the right person, but everyone is equally traumatised leading to people trying to protect themselves but sabotaging their connections in the process. If reading this is triggering, then you will find a safe space in Keelan Kember’s Thanks For Having Me, a witty and honest depiction of navigating love, relationships, hookups, breakups and everything in between.
The play spotlights the polar opposite love lives of Cashel (Keelan Kember) and Honey (Kedar Williams-Stirling). Cashel, extremely neurotic, self-deprecating but intelligent is fresh out of an 8-year relationship and struggling to find his feet again, so he decides to move in with his best mate Honey, who enjoys multiple casual flings and resents the idea of being tied down to one person.
Enter Maya (Adeyinka Akinrinade) and Eloise (Nell Tiger Free). When Honey introduces Cashel to Maya, (a girl he is only casually dating and definitely doesn’t have any romantic feelings for) she offers to set him up with her friend Eloise, to help him get his mind off his break up. When Cashel sets eyes on her it is love at first sight, and he gradually spirals out of control as himself, a serial monogamist, tries to make sense of Eloise’s refusal to even explore the idea of a relationship.
Meanwhile, Honey, strongly denying his growing feelings for Maya, finds himself breaking his own “casual hook-up” rules, and is forced to confront his commitment phobia and see where things could go with the first person that has ever made him question himself.
The chemistry between the cast feels natural, and it is easy to forget that we are listening to words penned by Kember, as each character feels like someone you would meet at work, and the conversations feel like ones the average 20-something year old has had before. This is amplified by Ellie Wintour’s impeccable set consisting of an open plan-living room and kitchen invites us warmly into a very familiar world.
Cashel’s dynamic with Eloise makes for an interesting debate about the way the world treats women who are deemed, conventionally attractive and intelligent, giving the audience some food for, as she insists that he only sees her as an ideal instead of a whole person. Falling on deaf ears, Cashel’s pursuit of Eloise is like watching someone hammer their hand to the wall, as he makes blunder after blunder, punctuated by his awkwardness and never-ending quirks. He is endearing though, and Kember’s performance makes you root for him as he eventually embraces his singleness, and forgives himself for his mistakes.
One of the play’s highlights was the budding relationship between Honey and Maya, portrayed so delicately by Williams-Stirling and Akinrinade Aptly put by Eloise, “you could cut the sexual tension with a knife” despite them both being reluctant to open themselves up to the possibility of something more. In one of the play’s final scenes, we watch the energy between them bounce off each other like a ping-pong ball as they tentatively, almost woefully, admit their feelings for each other, both maintaining their playfulness but making way for something tender, novel and exciting.
Thanks For Having Me is a light-hearted and fun watch but lacks depth, and so while it is relatable, it doesn’t say anything particularly striking or meaningful. While, it can be argued that not all theatre needs to be deep, or have a heavy meaning, considering the play’s length, the development of the characters is minimal and the play overall doesn’t have a strong enough message, but is still highly enjoyable. The play’s cast, set and relatable storyline make it a lovely watch, but not the most memorable.
By Melody Adebisi
★★★☆☆
Thanks For Having Me is showing at Riverside Studios until Saturday, 26 April.
