Flesh and Blood and Fish and Fowl

The office at the end of the world. Not that TV series – not at all! Maybe civilisation’s last office. Geoff Sobelle emerges from a very large bin. A bin large enough for two-person fun later. Chaos ensues as he plays toreador with a pesky fly. Charlotte Ford then appears to use the last - very irritating – microwave. Increasingly “the wild” intrudes – or at least a stuffed version of “the wild”. Urban America completely cut off from its natural origins, perhaps - and frightened of it. Foolish humanity swamped by what it ignored and trampled on?There is a great deal of skill evident here, in mime and movement, and the audience evidently enjoyed themselves - shown more through smiles than open laughter. The dialogue was difficult to follow at times, intentionally, I think – though the strange acoustic of the venue did the show no favours. There seemed to me to be some lack of connect between show and audience. Maybe it’s the problem of humour crossing continents. A Buster Keaton or a Jacques Tati would have loved this idea, - and perhaps the fact that I think of them when considering this show says something. But a warm connection with the audience as a base to build on would, I’m sure, have been paramount for them.There was much here that could only be commended, but for me it just didn’t catch fire. I felt what it was saying had been said before, and that although the original running time of 90 minutes had been cut to 65, I felt 45 would have been enough for this to be effective – and then maybe crisper.I went to this show with high expectations, and there were good moments and things that were very well done, but I was unable to avoid a sense of disappointment.

Since you’re here…

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Mama Biashara
Kate Copstick’s charity, Mama Biashara, works with the poorest and most marginalised people in Kenya. They give grants to set up small, sustainable businesses that bring financial independence and security. That five quid you spend on a large glass of House White? They can save someone’s life with that. And the money for a pair of Air Jordans? Will take four women and their fifteen children away from a man who is raping them and into a new life with a moneymaking business for Mum and happiness for the kids.
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The Blurb

Barricaded behind the doors of civilization's last office, co-workers rearrange the food chain in a feral mix of theatre, art and taxidermy. 'Funny, startling, thought-provoking, just plain weird. Terrific!' (Philadelphia Inquirer)

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