Review of ‘Are You Watching?’: “Sex-driven play is hardly a satisfier”

There’s a lot of fun involved in sex. And a lot of danger, too. This is not an intention to demonise such a pleasurable act, although that has somewhat become a trend in the most pious segments of the political spectrum. And that includes both sides. Yet, it’s interesting to explore how a basic human need can lead to the exact opposite. Many times, to its most harrowing extremes. These are some of those stories. And all of them are still waiting to be told.

It doesn’t matter if we pick the young lady committing herself to a sex-science experiment. Or the mother who’s desperately trying to find her missing daughter. Or the Hollywood star whose intimate footage was leaked- and later AI-generated -so millions of viewers around the world could watch without her knowing. Or the two teenage friends who fearfully discuss the news about a husband drugging his wife so strangers could stealthily get into bed with her.

They are all excellent plots. But none of them is exploited enough- for lack of a better term -to make them dramaturgically satisfactory. Far from it, actually. Some recounts hint at a blurred yet discernible arc. But overall, we aren’t given much more than exposition. And the feeling of frustration is inevitable.

Some interesting points are raised. Still, its approach comes across as shallow and underdeveloped. Although the script comprises a compelling array of perspectives, the treatment is vacuous. The concepts are there, but their complexities are barely showing. There is not enough intellectual impact. Nor does it strike emotionally either. All that we can see is an attempt to bring up a subject, but hardly any effort to elaborate.

The examples are multiple. And every storyline is affected by this problem in some way or another. A couple of scenes feature a family man in a heated argument with his son, who just made a painful discovery — his own father consumes underage pornography. Nothing else follows. No explanations. No opportunities to see how a respected figure becomes the monster his child now sees him as. There is no demand for fictional molesters to be given a chance. But there’s no point in introducing a character if there’s no real journey to accompany them on.

Although the rhythm is agile, the sense of directionlessness pervades. And ultimately, it takes over. There is a difference between an open ending and an absence of pivotal dramatic elements. No need to specify which one this is. Ultimately, the whole thing feels like a long trailer — we are enticed by what is teased, and we anticipate what’s going to happen. Sadly, the latter never truly materialises.

The performances are generally adequate, and some of them are even brilliant. Both Billy Bolt and Maimuna Memon demonstrate exceptional range in their multi-role renditions, portraying every character with an intricate, distinctive, and natural palette. In addition, Lucy McCormick shines as the mother, delivering an exceedingly heart-wrenching, visceral interpretation.

It could have been more. It should have been more. And no member in the audience could be blamed for expecting quite as much. Although its themes are poignant and thought-provoking, there’s too much reliance on rough ideas while its execution remains on the back burner. As a result, there’s not much praise to be given to Are You Watching?, whose promising premise leaves audiences with a hole the script cannot fill.

Are You Watching? plays at London’s Royal Court Theatre until 4 July. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara