A Number, Young Vic ****

I wouldn't say that the last Caryl Churchill play I saw was a success. Light Shining in Buckinghamshire was very difficult to watch and her writing felt more like a history textbook than a dynamic and engaging drama. I had resolved not to bother with this play after that experience however, after seeing that Michael Longhurst was directing, I got a ticket. It is clear that Churchill can write a decent play. A Number is a fascinating and superbly written piece that both deals with the relationship between fathers and sons as well as medical ethics and the future of science. Her play also is served very well by the creative team who create a unique and thought provoking experience. You're brought into a room with about 50 people with a covered screen facing chairs in a place which has a feel of a hospital waiting room. The sound in the background also feels medical before the blind are peeled back to reveal a mirror which then disappears to reveal John and Lex Shrapnel in a room where the other three sides are mirrors behind which are other audience members. Scutt's complex and fascinating design creates this feeling of the dangers of the advancement of medical science, showing that the unique relationship between a father and his son could be replicated and reproduced in the not too distant future. The flaw is that, by creating this effect, it involves creating a physical barrier between the audience and the actors. This keeps us from ever becoming emotionally involved in the drama properly which is a shame with such an engaging staging of a great play.