Stemming from the tragic death of a London cyclist, the effects ripple throughout those who know her, while she also leaves parting imprints on those she’s just met. The Spiral Path weaves together pieces of an overarching narrative about grief, with that of family conflict, and feelings of love.
Introducing Kirsty (played by Georgina Bennett) as she appears to try to help Harry- Paul Manuel, who commendably portrays the impact of age and bereavement on memory- find his missing wife, they sit in a cafe, and soon find their discussions delving into their lives. From the outset, it becomes clear that the show is about loss, though it is only over the duration that we discover how deeply rooted the theme is. Soon, the battles begin to spark when Kirsty’s best friend Georgina, husband Edward and dreaded mother-in-law Edie (Claire Jared, Jonny D' Spenna and Jill Priest respectively), all must overcome their own issues within their chaotic lives.
As the name suggests, there are twists and turns galore, and some elements appeared enticing as each segment revealed more parts of the story pieced together while the characters are built. However, some parts lose touch when becoming a bit soap-like, and lack depth, despite the heavy themes involved. In addition, the piece is very reliant on a plethora of props, and due to the nature of the environment in which it is currently being staged, the coordination of these sometimes feels disjoined, causing a loss of fluidity between each alteration.
The Spiral Path, written by Andrew Craig Sharpe, and directed by Kat Rogers, attempts to explore the meaning of significant life events through sequences of conversations that reflect the widespread effect of mourning the loss of a loved one, and the implications and tensions formed when relationships become tough. A bittersweet resolution is found as the show draws to a close to leave a satisfying ending that is fitting for the play, and the convincing and committed cast each do their bit, but overall, too much is unnecessarily told for the piece to be notably humorous, or overly thought-provoking.