Review: Jack – A Play, Pie and A Pint – Traverse

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JACK, the debut offering from 2023 Traverse Breakthrough Writer Liam Moffat, presents an intense, bittersweet study of grief and dog ownership.

Our protagonist, Lawrence Boothman, kicks off this chapterized tale with the surprise arrival of a puppy named Jack. Fears of dog hair and a cramped social life are only just crumbling away when bereavement strikes, changing the lives of both man and dog.

In the main, this is a fine, and nuanced study of loss, embedded within a settled, domestic gay relationship, and a firm riposte to the stereotype of gay relationships as ephemeral and exchangeable. With an acidic rainbow for a voice, innate comic timing, and a spiky vulnerability, Boothman is ideally cast in the role.

“With an acidic rainbow for a voice, innate comic timing, and a spiky vulnerability, Boothman is ideally cast in the role.”

This comic ability is central to JACK’s success, the absurdity of life and pet ownership never forgotten even whilst the protagonist’s life falls to pieces. Moffat only emphasises the bleakness of the protagonist’s situation by weaving these bright threads of humour throughout.

True to life, the world continues outside the confines of the protagonist’s flat, or their mother’s house. Doctors prescribe antidepressants until they don’t, counsellors do their best, whilst shades of everyday homophobia blight a funeral, and workplaces struggle to accommodate the bereaved.

Moffat shows an admirable lightness of touch, illustrating the protagonist’s experiences, and making points without labouring them. With Gareth Nicholls in the director’s seat, the resultant journey from misery to hope feels real, rather than a dramatic exemplar. Perhaps the protagonist’s chosen life-buoys are a little hackneyed, from Robin Williams to…Robin Williams, but the sudden switches from tears to mania, and from mania to sucking Wotsits, feel natural and unforced.

The pace never lags, and the protagonist never stops making choices. Choices which have consequences: you dabble in Grindr, you takes your chances.

“Moffat shows an admirable lightness of touch…”

That said, JACK’s ultimate tragicomic crisis does feel a little awkward, relying upon a relationship between man and dog only realised in fits and starts. Things begin well with a sweetly judged meet-cute in the dog’s cage, but never quite burgeon as they could.

This is a deeply introspective play by nature, but with much of the audience’s investment relying upon the dog, it needs more of an arc.

Nonetheless, the central story of finding life after loss is told with deep affection and a touch of mischief. As a debut work, JACK suggests Moffat is a playwright to watch.

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JACK will play The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh until the 24th February 2024. Limited tickets remain – click here.

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