Vermin by Benny Ainsworth, Park 90, Clifton Terrace, London N4 until 20 September 2025, 2☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Michael Parker.

Vermin by Benny Ainsworth, Park 90, Clifton Terrace, London N4 until 20 September 2025,

2☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“Fine performances, awful play.”

Terrific performances by Sally Paffett and Benny Ainsworth are one reason for seeing this nasty play but, that said, not really good enough. They play Rachel and Billy who meet on a train stalled because there is a would-be suicide on the tracks in front of it being talked out of their intention. The pair are sitting opposite one another and go down the train to find a window from which they can get a better look – although since no trains have windows that open one does not know why they did not stay where they were. The would-be suicide gets talked out of their plan and taken on to the platform only to jump in front of an express passing through on the opposite side. Billy and Rachel have found their soul mate, marry, buy a flat, and then it gets infested with rats. Rachel, who is grieving for her still born baby decides one of the rats is the child reincarnated, Billy, intent on getting rid of them, reveals that as a boy he enjoyed killing things and sets about enjoying doing so all over again. There are times when were one a paying customer one would walk out and this dire horror play was one such time – the performances apart, and Paffett and Ainsworth certainly inhabit their roles very well, it is hard to see any good reason for watching the play. It is being shown on the same night as God Save My Northern Soul although not as a double bill since they are separate bookings and Vermin comes from the Edinburgh Fringe. A really nasty piece of work as, indeed, are Rachel and Billy – although how nasty she turns out to be is something of a surprise.

Cast

Sally Paffett – Rachel

Benny Ainsworth – Billy

Creatives

Director – Michael Parker

Lighting Designer – Alex Lewer

Sound Designer – Ben Sorab