Reboot: Shorts 2

The Bunker

Reviewed – 15th October 2018

★★★★

“a show that demonstrates the diversity, vitality and ambition of young theatre-makers”

Shorts 2 is the second night of new writing produced by Reboot Theatre Company. With the use of simple staging, committed performances, and six of the best short plays selected from hundreds of submissions, Reboot (along with director Nico Pimparé) present a promising glimpse of a new generation of playwrights.

The show opens with Cradle, based on the deceptively simple premise of a couple (played by Faidon Loumakis and Athena Bounti) drifting apart. But, like the new Mercedes sitting proudly in their driveway, this is simply a cover, one that writer Sascha Moore slowly strips away to reveal a harrowing story of loss. The plot is layered and complex – surprisingly so considering its length – and Bounti’s performance is captivating.

It’s a hard act to follow, but The Answer is more than capable of doing so. It’s 1973, and Clive (Tom Blake) is taking a step into the future by purchasing an “ansafone”; his wife Jenny (Rachel Brown) thinks it’s a step too far. Tom Glover expertly satirises our age-old obsession with the latest must-haves. The writing and performances are witty, self-assured, and a great contrast to Moore’s tension-laced opener.

Kiss Kiss by Lily Shahmoon follows co-workers whose affair begins at completely the wrong time. They only have a few more months together before Hayley, who is pregnant, must retreat into stability. Shahmoon has created a sweet and endearing love story, and gives it a twist by presenting it entirely through text messages. Bounti and Michael Waller have great chemistry as Hayley and Chris, but important moments sometimes feel rushed.

Laura Harper’s Vermin opens the second half: whilst not as strong of an opener as Cradle, it is an intriguing premise that is well-executed. Lucinda and Ash are in pursuit of a fox. He wants to prove his usefulness to the resistance, she to gain access to the upper echelons of society. Harper’s piece is sinister, but its swift pace sometimes hinders our understanding of her dystopian world.

After a string of two-handers, Harry ter Haar’s Cheating unites four of the five actors to discuss the meaning of this act. Nick (Blake) announces in the middle of dessert that his wife is cheating on him…but is she? What follows is an absurd unravelling of the concept of “cheating” that impressively combines humour and high stakes. As in The Answer, Blake steals the show with his comic timing.

The final piece, Candy, is a monologue that rounds off a balanced programme. Will (Waller) is not the sentimental type, but a chance encounter with the woman of his dreams transforms his outlook. The piece is somewhat predictable and you can see the ending coming, but this does nothing to devalue Tim Fraser’s well-rounded exploration of character. Waller is likeable and engaging, drawing the audience in and effortlessly keeping them engaged.

Reboot have clearly worked hard to showcase a variety of forms and perspectives. The result is a show that demonstrates the diversity, vitality and ambition of young theatre-makers.

Reviewed by Harriet Corke

Photography by Ali Wright

Reboot: Shorts 2

The Bunker

Previously reviewed at this venue:

Ken | ★★★ | January 2018

Electra | ★★★★ | March 2018

Devil With the Blue Dress | ★★ | April 2018

Reboot:Shorts | ★★★ | April 2018

Conquest | ★★★★ | May 2018

Grotty | ★★★★ | May 2018

Guy | ★★★½ | June 2018

Kiss Chase | ★★★ | June 2018

Libby’s Eyes | ★★★★ | June 2018

Nine Foot Nine | ★★★★ | June 2018

No One is Coming to Save You | ★★★★ | June 2018

Section 2 | ★★★★ | June 2018

Breathe | ★★★★ | August 2018

Eris | ★★★★ | September 2018

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

Wet Bread

King’s Head Theatre

Reviewed – 10th July 2017

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“It’s a funny world when the only thing two friends agree on is the hideousness of wet bread”

You know you’re in for some serious political eccentricity when you walk into a theatre and are greeted by various colourful picketing signs – ‘save our badgers!’, ‘my body, my rules’, ‘meat is murder’ …

Adele is a young, strong willed and opinionated character, traits that could get her very far in life. However, she is one of ‘those people’, we all know the type, that one friend you have that insists you get on board with their political and environmental views. The friend in question will never hound you into changing your own views but will subtly remind you that your actions and beliefs are wrong and that you are solely responsible for the destruction of society and, of course, the planet.

But you still love this friend and take it all with a pinch of salt because after all, they can get themselves into some awfully funny situations.

From the romance that goes wrong – Adele’s inability to understand why her date isn’t Vegan – to her attempt at inviting a homeless man to share her home, this comedy focuses on the young people of today who are passionate about changing the planet but can’t really do anything about the state of their own lives.

Writer Tom Glover (finalist in the BBC Writers Prize for radio and the joint winner of the BBC Trans comedy award) cleverly incorporates many characters into this one-woman show.

Morag Sims plays the character of Adele but also the characters of Adele’s mother, best friend, whiny niece, love-interest, homeless acquaintance, fellow protestors and more. The versatility Sims shows is incredible and the ease at which she moves from one accent to the next is both impressive and utterly hilarious.

What is poignant throughout this production is the juxtaposition between Adele’s comedic every day life and the seriousness of her mother’s cancer. It asks the audience the question, why are so many people fighting monumental world issues when they don’t even have time to look after a sick family member? Do we really have our priorities right? Can we actually do anything about the state of the world?

Adele not only sacrifices her relationship with her mother but also the other people in her life. A concerned friend, baffled by Adele’s political interests, finds that one day over lunch the only thing two friends agree on is the hideousness of … wet bread.

Reviewed by Stephanie Legg

WET BREAD

is at The King’s Head Theatre until 13th July

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