Table 17

Table 17 sees two exes, Jada (Marisha Wallace) and Dallas (Jamael Westman), going for a long anticipated reunion dinner. We follow their journey as they reflect and rehash their past joys, mistakes and feelings, all whilst being observed and critiqued by a snarky yet hilarious waiter (Michael Rishawn). This play was sharp and witty, beautifully fused with tender moments that exposed the imperfections of the human condition. 

The set was relatively simple but intricate, consisting of a booth of a high-end restaurant which they utilised to their full potential to transport us to different locations. What was impressive was their creative use of lighting with LED floor panels and ribbon boards to not only indicate time and location, but to innovatively elicit and convey emotions. There were multiple special moments where the lighting design artfully elevated the mood of the piece.

One of the interesting elements of this production was the encouragement of audience participation. They encouraged us to vocalise our thoughts and respond to the characters when they spoke directly to us. This might have just been the blessing of a lively audience, but this added such a unique layer to the experience where we became even more immersed and invested in the story between these two characters.

Our permission to participate could have been a detriment to some actors, but Wallace and Westman led the play immaculately. The chemistry between the two actors was so authentic that they made it so easy to fall in love with the characters. Wallace was particularly impressive at challenging us as audience members to look past the flaws of her character and see her as a rounded person, neither good nor bad. Her performance was beautifully vulnerable and honest whilst being incredibly funny and charismatic. I must also commend Rishawn for his absolutely seamless transitions between three very different characters, all of which he served with such a confident presence and completeness. All three actors skillfully matched each other’s energy which made the play so easy and enjoyable to watch. 

There were a few times where I felt that the humour was prioritised in moments where the character development and progression of the story should have taken focus. This occasionally interrupted the flow of the narrative and disconnected me slightly from the emotion. However, overall, Table 17 was an incredibly fun and heartfelt watch that had every audience member emotionally invested. It is a refreshing presentation of the messiness of human nature and relationships; an important recognition in a social climate that has become hyper-critical and individualistic. Table 17 is a fantastic watch (it also has an amazing pre-show playlist!).

Theatre: Kiln Theatre

Reviewer: Anna Chatakondu

Date: 25/09/2026

Stars: 4