The
Hen and Chickens Theatre, London
****
What really goes on behind
closed doors? Katherine Rodden’s new play reveals that even the most outwardly
perfect family is far from flawless. This charming new comedy of manners from
Paradigm Theatre Company, directed by Cat Robey, takes inspiration from Oscar
Wilde and Noel Coward and mixes it with a splash of Sainsbury’s own Merlot to
comic effect.
The play opens with a rather tipsy Lauren (Katherine Rodden) in floral pyjamas, practicing a monologue from Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance whilst swaying on the sofa, gazing bleary-eyed at her reflection in an upside-down hand mirror. She takes to the stage with ease and has the audience giggling as she merrily prances about her flat, chatting to herself in a plum-English, drunken slur about the woes of being a struggling actress.
The comedy heightens when
Lauren’s mother (Rachel Dobell) turns up unexpectedly. Rodden depicts an
awkward mother-daughter relationship where neither really enjoys the other’s
company. It is packed with hilarious one-liners from both characters - even
when Mother announces that she has left Lauren’s father and wants a divorce.
The high standard of acting and writing portrays a very believable
relationship.
The entrance of Lauren’s father
(Alan Booty) provides a new set of laughs, with his flawed, upper class views
being a particularly amusing focal point. Unfortunately, Rodden’s acting takes
a dip at this point, her rendition of a spoilt daughter slipping to tiring
shrillness and overindulgent petulance. From this scene onwards, her moments of
brilliance are often marred by a tendency to overstate the act.
The play reaches a climax with
the divorce scene. The parents decide that the most neutral meeting point is
Lauren’s front room. She clearly wants nothing to do with the whole business,
and she certainly does not want to hear the explicit details of both of her
parents’ affairs.
This scene is so close to
comedy perfection; a delightful blend of comic timing, wonderful writing, and a
talented cast brings the script to life making the audience roar with laughter.
The heated interaction between Lauren’s parents was certainly the highlight of
the play. The addition of lawyers Craig (Keith Wallis) and particularly
Geoffrey (Matt Houlihan) is the cherry on the cake, as they squirm awkwardly
whilst listening to the particulars of Lauren’s parents’ problems.
The play could have finished
there, but Rodden chooses to introduce Lauren’s close friend Adrian (Patrick
Neyman). He is clearly very fond of Lauren and depicts the cliché, smarmy
boyfriend type to a tee - cosying up to the parents in the hope of winning over
the unsuspecting Lauren.
His attempts are dashed by the
unanticipated return of Lauren’s actor boyfriend, Simon (David Hemstead). The
complete antithesis of Adrian
in height and class, he sticks out like a sore thumb with his Cockney accent
and casual clothes as the other characters openly suggest
various offensive adjectives to try to sum him up. Although it would have been
interesting if his character was more developed, the palpable tension between
Adrian and Simon is highly amusing and certainly worth his entrance. When the
tension builds into slapstick comedy there are some serious laugh-out-loud
moments right to the very end.
This is a refreshing piece of
fringe theatre, in a delightful space, and with an exciting cast. It touches
upon an array of themes in a light-hearted manner without overwhelming the
audience. Paradigm Theatre Company certainly succeeds in quenching our thirst
for new comedy.
This production runs until 23rd February 2013.
For more information:
http://www.unrestrictedview.co.uk/page/venue.php?id=1
No comments:
Post a Comment