Review: Frank 4 Sophie 4 Eva at 53two is a ‘raw, powerful dive into resentment, trauma and broken relationships’

On Friday night, 53two Manchester hosted the world premiere of Frank 4 Sophie 4 Eva, a raw, unflinching look at the decay of modern-day marriage and the heart-wrenching isolation of mental illness.

Written by Ian Watson (known for works like Lift, Defect, and Behind the Mask), this play offers an unvarnished, at times darkly comic, exploration of how relationships crumble under the weight of unresolved resentment, silence, and unspoken trauma.

Frank 4 Sophie 4 Eva

In a therapist’s office, Frank (Simon Naylor) and Sophie (Alexandra Maxwell), now in their 40s, wade through the ashes of their failed marriage.

The stage design is austere, just a therapist’s sofa  – does not detract from two hefty performances from Simon and Alexandra.

They’re here to pinpoint “where it all went wrong,” but the real question seems to be: was it ever right?

Their marriage, stripped bare, reveals itself as a battleground of unmet expectations and buried grievances.

With biting humour and painful honesty, Frank 4 Sophie 4 Eva explores how even the smallest annoyances—a hair on the soap, Frank’s internet history, Sophie’s simmering frustrations—can become the wrecking balls of a relationship.

Though the subject matter could have felt overwhelmingly bleak, Watson injects moments of piercing humour into the story.

Frank’s frustrated outbursts, like his crude confession that Sophie “wouldn’t come near me unless I’d steam-cleaned my foreskin,” are  laugh-out-loud funny.

They’re the bitter pills of a marriage where passion has soured into distaste, and love has been strangled by resentment.

Frank’s resigned admission that Sophie “can be funny because she has the p*ssy” reveals how entrenched they are in their battle, each side vying for some last, hollow victory.

Kate Colgrave Pope’s direction shines in these exchanges, capturing the rhythm of a 90s sitcom, where tension and laughter coexist on the razor’s edge. The pacing keeps the first act light, almost breezy, as Frank and Sophie volley insults and wisecracks, masking their pain behind humour.

Act II

But in the second act, set in the dim ambiance of a pub where the two reconnect by accident, the tone shifts dramatically. Three years have passed, and Frank is now a man changed by mental breakdown and a suicide attempt.

Here, the laughs give way to a brutal confrontation with the loneliness and trauma that have shaped them both.

As they drink to dispel the discomfort, the bitterness of their lost years floods to the surface. Frank confesses he’s tried to “reinvent” himself, grasping at something new to stave off despair.

Sophie reveals a hidden trauma of her own, the haunting legacy of childhood sexual assault. Each revelation feels like a fresh wound, showing how deeply these characters have been scarred—not just by each other but by life itself.

Frank 4 Sophie 4 Eva doesn’t shy away from asking hard questions: why do couples stop communicating?

Why do we withhold our most difficult truths from the people we love? The play pulls no punches in its portrayal of “the suicide squad”—the alienation, numbness, and disconnect felt by those struggling with depression, a theme Watson tackles with nuance and respect.

Despite the grim topics, the writing and performances make it somehow, almost inexplicably, funny, reminding the audience that humour often masks the darkest parts of ourselves.

In the end, Frank 4 Sophie 4 Eva is more than a play about a marriage in shambles.

It’s a stark, painful, and oddly comedic reflection on human resilience, revealing that sometimes even our best efforts can’t save us from each other—or from ourselves.

Andy’s Man Club

All proceeds from the night were donated to Andy’s Man Club, a mens suicide awareness charity. They are hoping to end the stigma around mental health problems and show its okay to talk when you’re going through a rough time.

You can find out more on their website by clicking here.

Tickets for Frank 4 Sophie 4 Eva at 53two

Frank 4 Sophie 4 Eva is at 53two from Wed 30th October 2024 – Sat 9th November 2024

You can get tickets by clicking here