Archive for category Big Bite-Size Breakfast
The Big Bite Sized Breakfast
Posted by Martin in Big Bite-Size Breakfast, Jodie Fleming-Stanley, Pleasance on August 13, 2011
THEATRE****
The Big Bite Sized Breakfast
Pleasance Dome
360 Degree Vision are back with 5 fresh mini plays condensed into one seamless 60-minute show. Served with fresh coffee, croissants and strawberries, this was a sell out last year and is drawing huge crowds once again. There are 3 different ‘menus’ on offer, which means you can see this show on any 3 consecutive days and enjoy 15 different mini-plays. These plays may be bite-sized, but the subject matter is by no means small as they tackle original and not-oft seen issues. They’ve gone all out to find the most originally random yet deliciously enjoyable topics.
I attended Menu 1, and was treated to 5 flawless productions of various genre. ‘Rehearsal’ features a ‘relationsihp chameleon’ practicing a speech to win back his love. However things don’t go exactly to plan when they do come face to face. ‘Keeping Annabelle’ is a spoof kidnap plot, where the wrong victim is taken. The victim is most perturbed, ‘this is the worst kind of rejection I’ve ever had!’ and refuses to leave the basement. A poignant theme is tackled in ‘Stolen”, which confronts the issue of kleptomania. When the protagonist works her way up from stealing ties, to expensive pens, and ultimately to someone’s baby, the disturbing reasons behind this are revealed. ‘A Taste of Heaven’ is the humorous tale of an Iraqui warrior and his unintentional adventures on ‘an anti-gravity horse … travelling at warp speed’, which wins him awards for bravery. And my personal favourite, ‘Match Point’ – spoofing the internal dilemmas faced by 2 Wimbledon aces, the ball boy and the umpire.
5 well-produced and superbly acted pieces, by a fantastically adaptable and convincing cast of 4 who really brought these themes alive. I’m super keen to see the other 2 menus, as you will be too! Book now as this is heading toward another sell-out!
The Big Bite-Size Breakfast
Posted by Martin in Big Bite-Size Breakfast, Charlotte Monk-Chipman, Pleasance, Theatre on August 5, 2011
THEATRE
**
The Big Bite-Size Breakfast
Pleasance Dome
A show which incorporated breakfast and a hot drink in the morning is naturally appealing, and an enticing marketing scheme for the show to make the most of a morning performance slot, but the concept and indeed the breakfast fell short. There is a different line-up (or menu) depending on the day, I saw ‘Menu 2’ of a possible 3 and I felt the structure of the episodic plays to drag. Particularly with the first of the 5 ‘bite-size’ scenes, which was fittingly entitled ‘Uncomfortable Silences’. That said, performer Andy Hutchison’s performance was relaxed and his charm made it easy to watch, and at 10.30 in the morning, you don’t need material which is particularly challenging. However, the partnership with Lisa Beresford was awkward from the start, and for a show which hinged on relationships, this was problematic and only strengthened the noticeable chemistry between the other pair; Alice Robinson and Sean Williams, who were engaging and delivered great comic timing. The highlight of the show was their scene ‘Vintage’ by Lucy Kaufman; where we witnessed a sociopathic married couple living out a fantasy lifestyle in the 1940’s, and both the material and characterisation was quaintly bizarre. This had great potential to stand alone as a full length show, and I would love to see this particular sketch adapted.
If you are particularly keen on stale croissants, lukewarm coffee, an absence of promised strawberries and a side order of gently tickling comedy, then this is the show for you. However I left feeling hungry and with a lap full of crumbs, so the company practically handed over an edible metaphor of their show. Besides the crumby residue of the performance, the individual talents of Robinson and Williams drove the show, however I was uninspired to return for another menu, and at £10 a ticket, this is an expensive and unappetising breakfast.
