Clive is Thomas's cactus. Thomas, played by Paul Keating, talks to Clive and even has a 'Mexico' lighting and ambience setting to make him 'feel at home'. He simply says 'Mexico' to Alexa, and hey presto.
Thomas works in IT but is now based at home. He lives alone and has OCD, which manifests in his obsession with neatness and cleanliness.
I work from home and live alone, and my cactus is called KC, short for Kitchen Cactus. And yes, I do talk to KC. Occasionally. I don't have OCD, but there are other parallels with Thomas's set-up.
At the start of the play, Thomas is happy in his job. He is needed, has a purpose and routine. Until a company restructure and things turn toxic. I've been there.
The behaviour of certain colleagues causes him to question and doubt everything, and working alone at home means there is no one to share his concerns with.
It seemed obvious what was going on, having witnessed similar behaviour. It's the shadier side of people management that isn't talked about.
Thomas comments that HR has suddenly been renamed 'People', which highlights a grim irony. But this is set up rather than the focus of the play.
Increasingly isolated at work, Thomas retreats further into his lonely existence. He never goes out, living his life through the neighbours he can see in the flats opposite. He cleans even more obsessively and tries to take care of Clive.
Against a stark white set and Keating's white costume – smart shirt for Zoom calls and boxers for comfort – Thomas's downward spiral is all the more messier.
Keating's performance is at times chirpy and witty before reflecting the darker turns in the story.
However, the play's initial march towards an exploration of home working and isolation dwindles to a stroll as the play progresses, leaving a little too much unexplored. It culminates in an ending which feels too simplistic given the theme.
I'm giving Clive ⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.
Clive, Arcola Theatre
Written by Michael Wynne
Directed by Lucy Bailey
Cast: Paul Keating
Running time: 65 minutes, no interval
Booking until 16 August; for more details and to buy tickets, visit the Arcola Theatre website
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