There are few things more impressive in theatre than watching an audience go from uncontrollable laughter to complete silence within seconds. The Fifth Step does exactly that.
Lyle October as Luka and Albert Pretorius as James (Image supplied)
What initially feels like a sharply written dark comedy gradually becomes something far more tense, intimate and deeply human, leaving you laughing one moment and holding your breath the next.
David Ireland's The Fifth Step, directed by Charmaine Weir-Smith, follows James, an experienced member of Alcoholics Anonymous, who takes on the role of sponsor to Luka, a newcomer to the programme. As Luka approaches the fifth step of his recovery, requiring him to confront and confess his past wrongs, the relationship between the two men becomes increasingly complicated.
Set almost entirely around the two men and their conversations, the production doesn't need much to hold your attention. The writing does a lot of the work, but so do the performances.
A surprisingly funny story
There is a real sense of absurdity to some of the interactions between James and Luka, and the audience clearly embraces it.
There were plenty of moments when the theatre erupted into laughter, helped along by Ireland's sharp dialogue and the chemistry between Albert Pretorius and Lyle October.
Pretorius, who plays James, brings a calm, caring and almost wise quality to his character, while October's Luka has a much more erratic and intense energy. The contrast between the two makes their interactions especially entertaining.
But it is not just their different personalities that work so well. The two actors have immense chemistry, which comes through in the way they deliver their dialogue and bounce off one another.
Their exchanges feel natural and effortless, and at times it genuinely feels like you are watching a sitcom. The humour comes as much from their timing and reactions as it does from the dialogue itself.
When the room goes quiet
There were several times when I found myself holding my breath, hands clasped together, waiting to see what would happen next.
Those moments were particularly effective because of how much the actors communicated without saying anything. A pause could suddenly feel enormous, while a change in expression could completely alter the mood of a scene.
It is in these moments that Pretorius and October really shine.
The performances feel natural, particularly as the relationship between the two characters becomes more complicated. There is an intimacy to watching two people slowly reveal things about themselves, while knowing that neither is necessarily prepared for what the other might say.
Two actors are all it takes
The production is remarkably stripped back.
With Wolf Britz handling set and lighting design and Marisa Steenkamp on costume, the staging keeps the attention firmly on the performers.
There isn't a huge set or elaborate spectacle competing for your attention. Instead, lighting, music, the writing and the actors create the world around them.
The Baxter Studio feels intimate enough that the smallest reactions become noticeable. You feel close to the conversation, which makes the more uncomfortable moments particularly effective.
More than a story about recovery
Although The Fifth Step is built around Alcoholics Anonymous, its themes extend well beyond the programme itself.
The play explores masculinity, faith, accountability and the difficult process of confronting your own past. As Luka moves closer to his fifth step, the boundaries between sponsor and sponsee begin to shift, bringing buried secrets and trauma to the surface.
What makes the production work is that it doesn't turn these themes into a lecture. Instead, it gives us two flawed people trying to navigate an increasingly complicated relationship.
And that is where the play feels most human.
There is something recognisable in the way both characters try to protect themselves, deflect uncomfortable truths and work out how much they are willing to reveal.
By the end, The Fifth Step had delivered plenty of laughter, some genuinely tense moments and two performances that made it very easy to become invested in the story.
The Fifth Step runs at The Baxter Studio until 26 September 2026, Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8pm, with Saturday matinee performances at 3pm. The production is restricted to audiences aged 16 and over due to mature themes and strong language.
Tickets are available at Webtickets.
