Two screen stars excel in black comedy about addiction

@sohoplace

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The most important thing to say about The Fifth Step is, it’s very funny. Yes, it’s about two recovering addicts, one taking the first steps in the Alcoholics Anonymous programme, the other his older sponsor. Yes, there are shocking revelations and even violence. Yes, it explores trust in authority, toxic masculinity, lack of self esteem, and self deception but it’s written by David Ireland, the master of black comedy responsible for Cyprus Avenue and The Ulster American. And it stars Jack Lowden, who’s River Cartwright from Slow Horses, and Martin Freeman of Sherlock and The Hobbit fame. I can’t imagine any pair of actors doing it a better of balancing over-the-top humour and mental anguish.

Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman are on stage continuously for the entire hour-and-a-half. The wonderful in-the-round stage of @sohoplace has never been better used. Milla Clarke‘s set is minimal, with a few collapsible chairs and a table that can be brought out or tucked away, as needed. There is nowhere for the actors to hide, any more than their characters can, no matter how much they try. Director Finn Den Hertog choreographs the movement of the actors and furniture, like a boxing match. And, if we’re going for metaphors, there’s also a raised edge that the characters can walk along precariously between scenes. Because these are men on the edge.

Jack Lowden is Luka, a newly recovering addict nearing the fifth step of the AA programme, Martin Freeman is James, an older mentor who has been through it and offers his experience to the younger man. At first, Luka is man who needs help. He doesn’t know what to do or where to turn once he has given up drink. Jack Lowden gives Luka teary eyed desperation as he says, “I think I might be an incel.” James offers wisdom and advice, but whatever crutch Luka reaches for, like a bouncing puppy with wide-eyed hope,  James moves him on- don’t go to the pub, don’t masturbate, don’t have an affair with a married woman, don’t believe in Jesus. These are some of the funniest moments, as when sexist Luka speaks in a filthy way about women, without seeing the problem, while an exasperated James makes wry, often cynical,

It turns out that neither of them are fully to be believed. The two actors excel at conveying and concealing layers of truth. At first Martin Freeman is smiling, firm in his pronouncements, with a gimlet eye on Luka, but there is something about his controlling manner and his pointing finger that make you wonder about him even from the start. The meetings between the two continue and Luka gains in self esteem, until they reach the fifth step, which is confession about the harm their addiction may have done.

It’s then that we see what happens when faith is exploited and trust breaks down.  The newly confident Luka challenges his mentor as revelations about James’ contradictory instructions and hypocritical behaviour emerge. When that happens, James starts to break down with an aggressive defensiveness that includes nasty insults and actual, truly shocking violence near the end. Questions about the nature and abuse of authority come to the fore, already primed by earlier references to abuse of children by priests.

I felt the ending was silly, soft and rather sentimental, after such searing black comedy, and I could have done without so much reference to the importance of spiritual belief, even if there are some good jokes about it. Nevertheless, this is such a funny and profound play, and so well acted, I am happy to overlook those slight flaws, and thoroughly recommend The Fifth Step.

The Fifth Step is at @sohoplace until 26 July 2025. Buy tickets from the theatre here.

Paul paid for his own ticket.