Pleasance Theatre Archives - Page 19 of 28

★★½

“there were a lot of good ideas in the making, but the execution missed the mark”

The term ‘millennial’ conjures up so many stereotypes – tech-obsessed, avocados instead of houses, supposed disillusionment with capitalist consumerism whilst still lusting after Yeezy trainers and the latest iPhone. Regardless, this is an entire generation, the first to grow up with the internet, social media, ubiquitous advertising, and the free market. They have a lot to say, and ‘Black Cat Theatre’ wants to give them the platform to say it.

Jon Long, our ‘host’ for the evening, potters on to the stage to his own announcement of himself, with a tiny guitar and lovely little ditty about what not to recycle (dead cats, dildos, grenades, more dildos). I say ‘host’ because whilst this is how he’s introduced to us, this is his only stage time all evening. Nevertheless, he successfully warms the crowd, and we’re ready and waiting for an evening of equally endearing and engaging acts.

The set is left behind from a zombie/haunted house show – a skeleton in a wig lays conspicuously along a staircase – but after a while, you quite forget and the few props used for each sketch override the wonky walls and boarded-up windows.

The sketches themselves feel a little amateur. Of course, they’re all works in progress so we’re not expecting anything too polished, but perhaps a little exploration would be nice. The opening act for example, ‘When Mum Swipes Right’ (Thomas J. Misuraca) is about a son (Alex Di Cuffa) walking in on his mum (Gillian King) enjoying a Tinder ‘hook-up’ (Ross Townsend Green), but that’s pretty much the whole sketch explained – the content only goes as far as to explain the pitch.

There are some ideas that, given a little more time, might progress to something of more interest- ‘Pucker Up’ (Sam Rogg), for example, discusses the daily struggle of women’s contraception. The subject is compelling and often left unremarked upon, and there’s room for a lot of comedy, but the sketch itself felt very educational – as though it might be touring a secondary school (not a bad idea, mind.)

One sketch did buck the trend, presenting a satire of a woman’s attempt to succeed in our current climate. ‘Some Necessary Measures’ (Rebekah King) sees Kosha Engler attempt to get to the top floor of a building, but on every floor, she must stop and check in with a new concierge (Mike Archer) who requires more and more absurd sacrifices on her part in order to allow her to proceed. Whilst it did feel a little on the nose, the comic timing was brilliant, and the story well told.

All in all there were a lot of good ideas in the making, but the execution missed the mark. Devorah Wilde and Alex Di Cuffa, the pair behind ‘Black Cat Theatre’ have done well in providing a platform for new ideas, but, cruel as it sounds, they’re perhaps a little too encouraging where they might be more discerning.

Reviewed by Miriam Sallon

Don’t Look Away