The Nether

The Nether was an intriguing exploration of morality in the futuristic 2050 world of virtual reality.

By Patrick Cash 


With companies like Microsoft developing the HoloLens, and Apple awarded a patent for VR goggles, its ideas are not as far off as we might believe. The central crux of the script, written by Jennifer Haley, revolves around the dark desires of paedophilia given a lease within this realm by graphically designed and created children

Morally, the concept is engaging and thought-provoking. And theatrically the stage glimmered with spell-binding visuals, beginning in an interrogation room where a detective is questioning an old man, before swaying into the lush-foliaged world of the ‘Hideaway’. However beautiful it might look though, the visuals mask a twisted, malignant face; as the avatars tread the boards.

Questions of what is real and what is created emerged and wormed their way into the watching audience’s imagination. However, my biggest criticism was that at no point did I feel an emotional investment in any of the characters on the stage. The detective, played by Amanda Hale, appeared cold and distant from what she was investigating; perhaps because the subject wavered between the nether of reality.

Acting-wise, the performances were stellar and Stanley Townsend should be commended in particular. It was brave and commendable to tackle these issues that are so often wreathed in hysteria, and it in part forced us as a society to confront our demons: the so-called ‘dark web’ of crime that apparently flows beneath our daily Facebook use and Tweeting, and what unsettling developments may stem from that with the concurrent advent of technology.

The theatre of ideas is always intriguing to watch, and The Nether retained the spectator’s interest for its remarkable duration. But an emotional hook and tug is surely needed to make you walk out back into the world feeling life more strongly.

 

• The Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4BG

• Running until 25th April. 7.30pm. £20-75. 

www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-nether/duke-of-yorks/

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