Alkaline
Park Theatre, London

THIS domestic drama bursts at the seams with ideas. In a mere 75 minutes it explores religious conversion, the place of faith in contemporary culture, parenting, sexual relationships, friendships and middle-class privilege.

That's a lot to cram in and, while Stephanie Martin’s script shows a remarkable ambition, the play’s inherent promise needs more space for those ideas to be followed through.

Rather like Mike Leigh's Abigail’s Party, Alkaline revolves around a soiree thrown by Sophie and Nick, engaged but not in a good place, for their guests Sarah and Ali. She's an old friend of Sophie and a relatively recent convert to Islam while Ali, parent of three young children, has recently separated from his wife.