Less than a minute into the show and there’s a bomb, some sort of wizard and someone getting punched in the face. How did Sad Faces get to this point? Well, it’s not so clear – they all remember it very differently. It’s a classic ploy, teasing the audience with a snippet of the climax right at the start of the show, before going back to the beginning to explain how it all came about. Despite the silliness of the situation, it really works and the slow unfolding of the narrative means the show is completely engaging from the outset.
Sometimes the many layers of plot (some of which are teetering on the edge of being just a bit too bizarre) build up and it becomes slightly confusing. For such a light hearted and rather ridiculous story, it’s all too easy to get bogged down trying to work out exactly what’s going on and miss some of the often exquisite comedy that’s happening in the background.
Tuning out from the storyline, there’s plenty enough to keep an audience captivated. The four actors are greatly skilled performers and the show is incredibly slick. Balanced with flimsy props and costumes and a carefully prepared sense of chaos, Sad Faces Remember it Differently is entertaining and impressive in equal measure.
So how did Sad Faces get to this point, with the bomb and the sort of wizard and the punch in the face? As the show draws to a close, it’s still not entirely clear, but getting there is tremendous fun.