There's a playful, rough-round-the-edges physicality throughout this new show by Megan Heffernan and Sophie Fletcher. Performing against the backdrop of a roughly-painted office space, the pair – individually and together – create a plethora of amusing, easily identifiable characters during their supposed 'magical journey to the centre of an office'.
There's a depressed receptionist apathetically decrying her untapped potential while doing nothing about it; the 50-year-old spinster and head of HR who spends her time dreaming of writing an erotic novel; the none-too-bright Tiffany who nevertheless seems to prosper through her habit of seeing a grievance in every situation. There are many, many more, performed with unashamed glee and a glint in the eye from their obvious absurdity; no more so than with the business consultants from hell, the 'tits in skirts' otherwise known as 'The Balls Busters'. Full of motivational business -peak (such as their 'pioneering Grievance Resolution technique', discovered while doing something unmentionable in Syria), the Ball Busters' bravado and high-fives help punctuate the whole show.
While anchored around a supposed progress 'down the corporate body' from the boardroom to the front door, Heffernan and Fletcher successfully transport the audience around the world. In one sketch, a character shifts from office to airport to Mexico to the African desert in less than a couple of minutes, the transitions in space and time sign-posted with little more than a few words and some physical 'business'. There's an irresistible child-like logic to the whole show, with characters and situations occurring whenever they're required, rather than because of some expectation of realism. The presentation might not actually be as completely seamless as they hope, but the fun is in not minding about it.
A few ideas could be said to outstay their welcome – Heffernan going cross-eyed while miming to 'I Can't Take My Eyes of You', for one – though that might simply be in comparison with the speed of the whole endeavour, which seldom hangs around waiting for you to get bored. Just a word of warning; while there definitely IS a 'fourth wall' in this office, it's not one either performer is afraid of crashing through! There's no doubt, though, that Heffernan and Fletcher have a real gift when it comes to pulling an audience into their strange and exaggerated world.
