Jason Watkins Gives The Most Impressive Performance!

Frozen is the type of play that you'd binge watch if it was a series. Yes, the play is called Frozen because it plays on the metaphor of one's mind being frozen due to a tragic event, but I'd like to think of it being named so due to it literally freezing you to your seat. You're sent on a disturbing journey where you learn the stories of three different people whose paths intertwine. Nancy (Suranne Jones), the mother of missing daughter Rhona, Ralph (Jason Watkins), a paedophile serial killer, and Agenetha (Nina Sosanya), a criminal psychologist.   

When a play categorises itself as a psychological thriller you instantly have expectations that you hope for it to meet, Frozen surpasses all of them. Suranne Jones is the pawn that draws you in and Jason Watkins is the King that knocks you out; his performance was something else. Watkins makes you believe you are in the presence of an actual paedophile. Your blood boils and you wish to shout as he presents his £3,000 collection of child pornography to the audience as if we would be impressed by it. The way he describes how he captured Rhona "Hello, hello... It's rude to ignore people", and his overuse of the word obviously because, well "obviously" he leaves the back of his van unlocked; how inconvenient for him if he didn't?

Suranne Jones portrays the mother of a missing daughter incredibly (obviously), her character deteriorating as the play progresses. It begins with her in the garden, moaning about everyday stuff, painting the picture of another normal day family. Then the downward spiral commences, and you can't help but be captivated. The hope she carries - "Mum, I'm home" - to the hope she loses when she cradles the skull of her daughter 20 years later, is utterly entrancing. Leaving you sat with your hand over your mouth, eyes of sympathy, and heart aching. However... the Northern accent isn't Suranne's greatest feat, it was lost at some moments and then found again - but the play was so well executed you let it pass.

Nina Sosanya makes a very believable psychologist from America - when giving her lecture it was like you were sat in an auditorium (I felt guilty for not having pen and paper present). The way she speaks with Ralph and her studies, as well as physical examinations, of him were admirable. It makes you remember that there are people out there doing this as a career. Her theory, "sin or symptom", peaks your interest and her belief that Ralph has an illness and his actions of killing are all due to his own difficult past, carries weight long after you leave the theatre.

As much as we try to ignore the dark corners of this world, Frozen gives a valuable insight into the humanity behind the headlines. Stripping away lurid tabloid tales in favour of telling the story of one fictional, but no less searing occurrence. If you can handle the subject matter and you're after a play where you forget you're in a theatre, then I would recommend Frozen tenfold.

View our show pages for more information about Frozen, Theatre Royal Haymarket.