Reflective and Poignant 'On Demand' Enhanced by Tabard's Air-con
Susan Stanley-Carroll finds Duncan Campbell's play peppered with wit
John Gorick returns to the Tabard with Matt Hill. Picture: Matt Hunter.
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June 28, 2025
In the blissful air-conditioned studio theatre in The Tabard Theatre a new play “On Demand’ by Duncan Campbell is showing until 12 July. Duncan has written a reflective and poignant script peppered with witty dialogue about an ‘end of life’ experience. Coincidentally, it chimes with the ‘bill’ moving through the House of Commons and House of Lords to legislate for a legal end termination for the end of a life
Nick Bromley, a much-respected theatre director, has delivered a nuanced, engrossing production; it arouses our curiosity when Matt (Sam Hill) and Peaches (Rita Estevanovich) arrive.
Who are these two strangers? Why are they in that remote country space? What is their relationship with each other?
And so on… shades of Pinter echo through the mind as clean-cut dialogue flows between Peaches and Sam.
Peaches drifts off to buy a cake. Matt also leaves the space and a bemused Trevor (John Gorick) arrives. John Gorick immediately changes the tempo. He is mesmerising. He responds to vintage pop songs that pull the audience into the same zone: and my, oh my, he sparkles as the music takes hold of his spirit. Matt and Peaches arrive they set up a picnic…. The music continues. At this point anything else written will be a spoiler!
Except for Trevor’s memoir triggered again by a great range of hits from the sixties, seventies and eighties…we hear his life story and probably many in the audience recalled their own memories for example when “Whiter Shades of Pale” gushes through the auditorium.
John Gorick, last seen at The Theatre at The Tabard in ‘Delinquent Dad’, explores with sensitivity the complex character of Trevor and creates a man oozing anguish and bravado as he ponders on his self-centred life, as well as, his artistic ambitions and passions.
Peaches ( Rita Estevanovich) evolves from an angry, robotic person to a human being tenderly administering love. Whereas Sam Hill (Matt) creates normality while carrying out a task that is to him ‘just a job’.
The minimalist set, videos and excellent sound track were perfectly managed by a great team including Rob Miles, Pat McMahon, Rob McKinley, Leyla Harris, Lily Minores, Tim Topple, Rory O’Farrell and Duncan Campbell. Rachael Corrigan was the excellent Stage Manager.
I left the Tabard excited and moved by the production as did my friend. We talked much about the enigmatic plot and the superb acting.
An after-show chat with Duncan Campbell, Nick Bromley and the cast would be an interesting extra addition to this enigmatic production as there are many questions generating from the text that a dialogue might resolve.
Susan Stanley-Carroll
Performances 26 to 28 June £23.50 Full Price/£19.50 Concessions. All other performances £25.50 Full Price / £21.50 concessions
Coming Up at The Tabard
- SUNDAY 27 JULY: THE ESSENCE OF AUDREY
Theatre at the Tabard is at 2 Bath Road, Chiswick (W4 1LW).
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