An unusual visit to the White Bear Theatre last night for not one but two one act plays on the same bill. Even more unusual, both plays had the same writer, director and were performed by the same cast. So, how was my night with Toxic and Hermione’s Dinner?
Let’s start with Toxic. This is the story of an architectural practice owned and run by Fletcher (Stephen Connery Brown). Fletcher would describe himself as a man’s man or an Alpha male. He has his own way of dating and handling his female employees, whom he seems to regard as one of the perks of his job. Caroline (Melanie Thompson) is fairly new but is warned of Fletcher’s behaviour by her colleague (Francesca Anderson) and takes it all in. After all, forewarned is forearmed, and with her knowledge, Caroline can be prepared for Fletcher’s moves and just maybe turn them to her advantage.
After the interval, it was time to join Hermione’s Dinner. At the end of a middle-class dinner party, Hermione is busy putting her children to bed. During her absence, Carla (Francesca Anderson) takes the opportunity to have a few more drinks and pontificate to her friend Roger (Stephen Connery Brown) and his girlfriend Sue (Melanie Thompson). Carla is worried as Sue has persuaded Roger that they need to start a family. Something Roger has never shown much enthusiasm for before. Carla is virulently anti-children. Even when she was one at school, she wasn’t keen on other children, and her attitude to sprogs has, if anything, hardened as she got older and saw her friends fall by the wayside and change their lives as they bring new life into the world. The more Carla points out the perils and pitfalls of having children, dissecting every negative aspect that they bring to the world in great detail, the more Sue gets angry and tries to justify the good points of children whilst simultaneously commenting on the state of Carla’s life.
So, two very different plays and, I have to say, both of them really well written by Ian Dixon Potter. There is a tenuous link between them as both, at heart, are about choices that people make. Both Caroline in Toxic and Carla in Hermione’s Dinner make choices that have a dominating effect on their lives. Whether we agree with their choices or not, we have to admire them for making their decisions and sticking by them. Both stories were very true to life and easy to imagine happening in the real world. This is especially true of Hermione’s Dinner, which, I’m sure, resonates with many people – including yours truly – who don’t see producing offspring as a necessary or even desirable part of relationships but, due to the conventions of society are not spoken of in public, even among one’s friends. Another thing I liked about the writing was the times when one of the characters was speaking directly to the audience.
So now, the actors and full credit to them for producing six such different characters between them. This is especially true of Stephen Connery Brown, who was so different as Roger in Hermione’s Dinner compared to Fletcher in Toxic. The former is a rather hen-pecked man who has been ‘persuaded’ that he wants a family with the love of his life. The latter a thoroughly despicable slimeball who I disliked from his first appearance and continued to watch with ever increasing loathing throughout the performance. Similarly, both Francesca Anderson and Melanie Thompson turned in excellent and performances of very different characters between the first and second play and I have to applaud all three actors for the excellent performances.
Overall, I was highly impressed by Toxic and Hermione’s Dinner. The scripts were well written and avoided lots of potential pitfalls where characters could have gone overboard and lost the sympathy or care of the audience, and the acting really was first rate. With both plays, I was left thinking about the characters and wondering what happens next to them all, while wishing them well in the future, apart from Fletcher obviously.
Review by Terry Eastham
TOXIC
A monumental ego and a self seeking ruthlessness have propelled Fletcher to the top of his profession. An ‘alpha male’ in every sense, Fletcher surrounds himself with flatterers and sycophants who fear and loathe him. Knowing his reputation for preying on young female employees, Caroline keeps her distance but an opportunity to advance her career propels her into Fletcher’s lascivious clutches.
Written by Ian Dixon Potter
Directed by Phoebe White
Performed by Melanie Thompson (Caroline), Francesca Anderson (Patricia) & Stephen Connery Brown (Fletcher)
HERMIONE’S DINNER
Carla is one of that rare breed of women, who harbour a powerful aversion for children. She’s hoping to save her old friend Roger from being drawn into the clutches of Sue, a woman who desperately wants to ‘start a family’. Roger was equally unenthusiastic about the prospect of fatherhood but has he now changed his mind? Carla is introduced to Sue at Hermione’s dinner party. Hermione, herself is prematurely aged by the rigours of parenthood and struggling to control her unruly and malevolent children whilst being constantly reminded of the glittering career she was forced to give up. The battle lines are drawn.
Written by Ian Dixon Potter
Directed by Phoebe White
Performed by Francesca Anderson (Carla), Melanie Thompson (Sue) & Stephen Connery Brown (Roger)
TOXIC and HERMIONE’S DINNER
A double-bill of two short plays
White Bear Theatre
17 to 28 June 2025
