The Nethernauts

Liminal Grecian Urnings

The Nethernauts

by Tom Kane

Morvern Productions at The White Bear, Kennington, until the 24^th February

Review by Heather Moulson

A farcical voiceover is heard across a stage that is bare, save for an impressive cave and a lectern.  Then there is genuine humour as a row breaks out in the wings about the absence of their speaker Anthony Essential, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, before the young rookie businessman Wristwatch is shoved into the spotlight.

Highly effective lighting by Euan J Davies, and disturbing sound by Luke Brady, notch up the atmosphere. 

Part of Tom Kane’s Liminal Cycle of plays The Nethernauts is set at a conference in Greece in 2008, during the financial crash.  Company executive Wristwatch fills in stockholders with the news that their wealth is no more.  Moreover, there is rioting in the streets and a grim situation all round.  

Essential is finally located, having passed out on a beach.  When the two men are reunited, there is banter, violence and evidence of a rocky friendship.  The bad news includes that a hostile takeover of their company has only favoured graduates.  Loyal employees with valuable experience, such as Essential, have been cast aside.  Did Essential throws himself off of a cliff?  Certianly, he is literally and figuratively washed up.

The highly watchable Noah Marullo plays Wristwatch with vibrancy, charm and pathos.  Essential is an abrasive character, aggressive and boorish, Tom Kane plays him, with shades of Ricky Gervais, as sad but genuine at heart.

The unnerving and effective presence of a mysterious creature in a gold mask crawls across the stage to gather hallowed objects from a chalk circle.  Essential has entered Limbo, a harsh and unforgiving underworld, and encountered Bits and Pieces, two women scavengers from a group known as the Nethernauts. 

The executive world and the sub-world meet head on.  After the initial shock, Essential puts ambitious plans to the women, who are played by Katie Georgiou (Bits) and Siân Davis (Pieces).  Ambitious plans until a strong encounter unravels the sub-situation.   Although it is an interesting concept, it is overplayed in places. 

After an appearance from the Fallen Angel, played by Noah Marullo, we welcomed the return of Wristwatch.   A fitting end combines Tony Essential’s sales pitch with a reunion with his colleague.

Studiously directed by James Barlow, The Nethernauts is an intelligent piece that writer Tom Kane describes as “using frameworks from world mythological epics and the history of economics”.  That’s an idea that takes a little unpacking, but it is worth it.

Heather Moulson, February 2024

Photography by Lance Penez