Theatre can elicit many emotions in an audience – fear, sadness, joy, anger, to name but a few. Last night, I felt an emotion that I don’t think has ever been awoken in me through the arts – an absolute, raging frustration.
The show’s description is quirky and intriguing – basically, quantum tunnelling, but with a crumpet. What if you could throw a crumpet through a wall?
SPOILER ALERT. You cannot. And I know this, because last night I spent an hour watching crumpets being buttered and thrown at a wall. Not just crumpets, either; a shoe, a free newspaper, an unsuspecting Lindt bunny. None of the above can be thrown through a wall, and I’m sorry to say that I didn’t find the process of finding that out remotely entertaining.
The stage is set with the world’s worst Pelaton bike that looks like it might fall to pieces at any minute. I know fringe budgets are tight and the chaos of it all can sometimes add a touch of charm, but this was distracting to the point where I was almost uncomfortable. The cast are sporting enough casual denim to rival a GAP advert, and any enjoyment I initially gleaned from the routine playing out quickly dissipated as the monotony took over and I began to fixate on the terrible, terrible waste of delicious crumpets I was witnessing.
I’ve got a fairly high tolerance for off-beat theatre, but this was a step too far for me. If there was a higher purpose to the performance, it was lost on me, and I found any charm it might have had gave way to boredom very early on. There were pockets of laughter around the room – the guy behind me clearly found the performance hilarious – but for a show with only a 60-minute run time, it felt like one of the longest hours of my life.
I’m not saying don’t go, I’m just saying, know what you’re in for. A ticket may be less expensive than buying dozens of crumpets, so if you’re interested in seeing if one being thrown through a wall is a possibility, this could be an economical option, and the staff at the Camden People’s Theatre are always an absolute delight and it’s great to be able to support a local venue. Otherwise, I’m sorry but I’d give it a miss.
Reviewer: Zoë Meeres
Reviewed: 21st April 2021
North West End UK Rating: ★
An Officer and a Gentleman the Musical got off to a delayed start on Monday…
Is there a better example of Vampire Clowning in the UK? I doubt it. The…
Storyteller, Ines Alvarez Villa, brings to vivid life two stories of her own creation in…
Orlandoan, Bruce Ryan Costella packs a lot into this hour long show at Banshee Labyrinth…
Alex Staniforth, actor, writer and tour guide is an old hand at the Edinburgh Horror…
The rock carved chambers at Banshee Labyrinth are highly appropriate for the annual horror festival…