A piece of new writing from Durham University’s Hyena theatre company, Cut! stages the tumultuous and often frustrating journey that it can take to put on a theatrical production whilst embracing the natural comedy that may ensue.
The play opens with the director seated in the front row of the audience whilst various physical manifestations of acting tropes take to the stage to perform their prepared pieces or read lines. This is cleverly executed with each caricature being farcical so as not to be insulting - and yet even someone who has experienced only a brief brush with the theatre will recognise the elements of truth behind all of them. That is not to say, however, that it is only a play for thesps and luvvies: indeed, the play’s script is funny enough on its own, with particular dues to Tommy the Liverpudlian producer who effectively plays the everyman in a cast of extremes. His more grounded character brought balance to the production and yet still provided some of the funnier moments. Furthermore, the play also benefits from some excellent lighting that often reflected the shifts in intensity, but also helped create atmospheric moments in an otherwise light-hearted production. The show also contains a twist: not the most shocking twist in the world, but it does work in the context of the production and certainly has the audience baffled. If only briefly.
Cut! is a funny play that does a very good job of poking fun at the actors that often populate the Fringe’s venues and you are going to be hard pressed to find better value comedy anywhere at the festival.
