Peanut Butter & Blueberries review

The play’s negotiation of humour and social commentary is a little awkward early on, with one seeming to pause to give way to the other. But as Manzoor-Khan unpacks the particulars of Hafsah and Bilal’s personalities, the elements become more organically integrated. Syed and Hussain evolve a lovely, dorky chemistry, rooting the romantic-comedy staple of a mismatched couple in refreshingly new ground.

Director Hussain keeps the focus on Hafsah and Bilal. Apart from a couple of benches and chairs on the Kiln’s revolve, the stage is bare. It’s just about them – and them and us. This creates a personal connection that keeps us invested, but it’s a type of intimacy you feel would work better in a smaller space, in spite of inter-scene choreography and music that aims somewhere between joyful and wistful. I’d also love to meet one of Manzoor-Khan’s best offstage characters, Hafsah’s fearsome friend, Mythri.

Ultimately, though, the play works as both a romance and a comedy. From Bilal delivering hot chocolates to Hafsah on a park bench, to their sparring, to the deepening of their relationship as they learn unexpected things, their dialogue is funny and believable. It doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of their world, and when obstacles inevitably arise, you care about their impact. Crucially, the ending, like all the best, is sad, but life-affirming.