THEATRE

This is a challenging play to bring off successfully. It contains much absurdity, and reflects the fact that the Roumanian Ionesco was teaching English, and used an English phrasebook for some of his lines, to reflect on both language and behaviour.

Mr and Mrs Smith are waiting for the arrival of their friends the Martins and the Captain of the Fire Brigade – who will explain everything…. He does indeed manfully tell many stories, of little or no connection to each other.

This was their first performance, and whilst it began a little hesitantly it built considerably in  pace and intensity. The final ten minutes really took of in the mad way that is necessary. This play is said to have influenced much later comedy, including Monty Python.

The time constraints of the Fringe can cause people to think of time when on stage, and I have even seen cast members looking at their watches. I’m not sure if this affected these performers, but there were times when they effectively swallowed phrases – this applied especially to Charlotte Rouse as Mrs Smith and to Emily Aucutt as Mary. Words are very important here, and it is better to relish them,  let them appear as crazy treasures, rather than rush through them. The attempt at “posh” English accents of the period was a good idea, though only intermittently achieved.

All of the cast made a very good stab at this difficult work, Daniel Wye as Mr Smith perhaps especially; Olivia Battle-Welch as Mrs Martin was very clear and forceful; Rob Tressler as her husband  was effective but could have been more expressive; Toby Stevens as the Captain was very smooth and enjoyable in performance.

It is very good to see a youthful cast performing this play, and I am sure it will improve with each performance.