Theatre review: Most Favoured

Three shows into 2026 and I'm already finding the unwelcome theme of shows that are really hard to review - whether that's because they're so impenetrable or because it's barely possible to say anything about them without spoilers. Most Favoured falls firmly into the latter category, a show that's best approached knowing as little as possible, but which is so concise that beyond the very basic premise - a man and woman have a one-night stand, the next morning they both have things to reveal that throw a very different light on what's just happened - it's hard to even approach without giving things away. Even the blurb gave me clues about the major twist, so, basically, you've been warned if you read on. David Ireland's plays have mostly been haunted by the long shadow of sectarianism, but here there's a playful look at the very core beliefs that those religious sects are built on.

Mary (Lauren Lyle) has in her own words slept with a lot of men in the last few months, in fact she's made it her mission to tick off as many as possible, and has run out of anyone she might be interested in in her native Glasgow. So she's widened her scope to Edinburgh during the Festival, and ended up with dopey American Mike (Alexander Arnold.)

While Mary was in the shower Mike wandered from his hotel room to get KFC for breakfast, something he's amazed by as he claims never to have had, or even heard of, KFC before despite being from Indiana. For her part, Mary was particularly blown away by what happened between them, so much so that she makes an earnest admission that might scare most men off. Mike, though, has an even wilder riposte which opens the story up to more metaphysical and philosophical concerns.

The premise does make this seem more like an extended sketch than a full play and in some ways that's true, but Max Elton's production does make the most of the simple idea's possibilities: It mainly stays in a comic lane, with Lyle bringing some very funny, dialled-up reactions in contrast to Arnold's mix of beatific calm and blunt pragmatism. But it does let in a more quietly moving, thoughtful slant, and knowing Ireland's other work it's hard not to see this as an attempt to get back to something gentle and meaningful in the beliefs that he grew up so closely associating with violence.

Most Favoured by David Ireland is booking until the 24th of January at Soho Theatre.

Running time: 1 hour straight through.

Photo credit: Danny Kaan.