Winner of the Cambridge Footlights' annual prize for new comic writing, Coat arrives in Edinburgh on a wave of success. The play follows two stories - that of a young couple trying to make their relationship work and that of a man and his new coat. Both stories weave together nicely, complimented perfectly by the actors singing as they change settings and costumes.
The play is interesting and funny, with a host of amusing characters and scenarios. When many of the scenes stray into monologue, the actors are easily capable of maintaining the audience's attention. It would be inappropriate to single out any of the three performers, as all roles are well played throughout. It is a shame that much of the humour seemed a little try-hard, more so in scenes which felt like more of a sketch show than part of a play. An example of this would be the introduction of a tailor, who moonlights as an assassin. While funny, albeit in a silly way, this (and a few other scenes) did not fit very neatly within the play's structure, making the humour rather forced at times.
Saying that, there is a lot to be liked here and the writing is good, particularly for a student production. The couple's storyline is probably the most enjoyable, where arguments are titled for future reference; 'the squash incident' and the 'cling film vs. tin foil incident' both used to fuel further debate. As we laugh at their rocky relationship, we are drawn closer to them, allowing for a few poignant moments towards the end. It is a shame that this connection is wasted by an anticlimactic finish to the piece, and despite having enjoyed myself a lot during the play's hour, I left a little unsatisfied.
