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By
Harriet Mancey-Barratt
With
only two actors, a bowler hat and a suitcase, Washed Away played
with the audience's expectations to brilliant effect. A sketch show,
a weighty drama or a series of literary parodies? It turned out
to be all three, exploring the life of a typically English office
worker, Mr. Plumley, who aspires to little more than the fulfilment
of his day-to-day schedule. Steak-and-kidney pie, The Daily Telegraph
and the comfort of British Rail; tea and toast, Radio 4 and an obsession
with the sole female he comes into contact with, the local newsagent's
assistant.
Then
this comfortable but mundane worker is literally swept away by the
tides of change. Mr. Plumley is led to challenge the foundations
of his very existence through a series of events mixing classical,
biblical and brilliantly bizarre influences.
A filthy,
thieving scavenger met in a whale's intestines turns out to be Jonah,
and the two must follow an Odyssey-like path to 'happiness'. This
was essentially a tale of growth and learning, but thankfully entirely
lacking in any kind of Americanised talk-show moral. As English
as the hero/fool, this play relied on fond disrespect as a dramatic
mode entirely suited to the content.
The
character work was really quite astounding, even more so because
of the potentially tricky on-stage switches between characters.
However, these only added to the humour, with neither physical or
vocal characterisation a problem for either actor.
Almost
more intriguing was the after-show discussion, where it soon arose
that this was the first night of performance, and that the script
had been revised until a few days before. Amazing then that the
two played perfectly off each other with such impeccable timing
and dramatic consideration.
Touching
and hilarious, thought-provoking and compelling, this was one of
the most inspired pieces of theatre I have seen for months. Fresh
and surprising while still retaining continuity and logic (of a
twisted and fantastic sort), this is not something to miss. Cancel
all other plans - don't even sleep - write a memo on every cigarette
you buy - until you see this fantastic play.
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