What a treat it always is to return to my favourite playhouse, the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park – a venue that continues to champion provocative and powerful new writing. How to Fight Loneliness is no exception: an intense and enthralling piece that creeps up on the audience with quiet menace and emotional depth, written by Neil LaBute.
The story unfolds with a slow, deliberate build, layering suspense until we find ourselves teetering on the edge of our seats, minds racing with questions. Terminal illness is at the core of the narrative – a topic fraught with complexity and emotion – but here, it is handled with sensitivity, brutal honesty, and an unexpected undercurrent of humour. That humour, often delivered through the character of Tate, brings a surprising levity that only deepens the poignancy of the piece.
One of the play’s most compelling mysteries lies in the presence of Tate, an incongruous and initially bewildering figure in Jodie’s life. Why has she brought him into her world? As the first half progresses and Jodie’s motives become clearer, the stakes rise – not with bombast, but with a growing dread as we begin to question the feasibility and consequences of her plan.
Justina Kehinde delivers a stunning performance as Jodie. She embodies both the physical toll and the psychological turmoil of her character with such conviction that it’s impossible not to feel every tremor of her anguish. Her performance anchors the play and gives it a raw, human heartbeat. The supporting cast – Morgan Watkins (Tate) and Archie Backhouse (Brad) match her in intensity and presence, creating a rich and intimate theatrical experience.
By the final curtain, How to Fight Loneliness leaves the audience not only moved but introspective, pondering mortality and the choices we make when faced with its inevitability. It’s the kind of play to ignite conversations on the journey home – lingering in the mind long after.
Review by Bernadette Lintunen
“No Hollywood end to this. No last-minute rescue. This… right here… with you… is the best chance I’ve got…”
Jodi and Brad seem like they have it all. The house in the suburbs, the nice car, the fully stocked bar. But when the couple are faced with a devastating crisis, they must enlist the help of a mysterious acquaintance from Jodie’s past.
In this timely, dark, and dazzling UK premiere, Tony Award-nominated Neil LaBute takes an unflinching look at how we navigate our lives when time is running out.
Cast: Archie Backhouse (Brad) Justina Kehinde (Jodi), Morgan Watkins (Tate)
Written by Neil LaBute
Director: Lisa Spirling
Set and Costume Designer: Mona Camille
Lighting Designer: Chuma Emembolu
Sound Designer: Roly Botha
HOW TO FIGHT LONELINESS
Park200, Park Theatre
16 April to 24 May 2025
