The
Search For Love
Theatre in
a pub sounds too right to be wrong. A satirical
lecture using physical comedy and textual wit?
Excellent! On cue the doors are opened and we’re
welcomed by a dizzy blond. “Are you concession?”
she shoots a gormless monotone gape. Is this part
of the act or is it real? We take a table as actor Andrew Proctor tutts onto stage akin to Victor
Meldew oozing disgust at being scrutinized before
the curtain. Wearing lab coats and assembling
projectors the “lecture” becomes evident
as Andrew Dobb stumbles with clown like authority
leaving us always in doubt of his intent.
Charlie Sanderson seductively cavorts as she is joined by Polly
Wiltshire, the hatcheck girl who confounded our
entry. We anticipate the beginning but a late
crowd rambles in containing Drew Baxter who loudly
orders a drink from the bar. This is the show,
it started when we arrived but with confusion
and wit we are five minutes into the piece where
they are about to expose absurd courtship customs
from around the world. Baxter expertly plays the
lecturer whose constant lateness and clear intoxication
is forgiven for an enlightened perspective on
life that is purely in place to make us ask questions.
By stripping
bare the sublime and ridiculous social rules that
chaperon us we go through puberty, masturbation
and discharge to cover the first topic of “Sexual
Awakenings”.
”The Hunt” takes rutting teens animal
needs on an oblivious journey that never stops
to ask, “what exactly do I want?”
Once ensnared the blinkered odyssey takes us to
“Courtship” where they hilariously
parody arranged marriage, chaperones, incest and
underage sex which are exhibited as grotesque
customs and cultures whilst social rules are laid
out to ambush and ensnare in the ongoing quest
for love and marriage. Divorce takes a back seat
as viewed more an option than the animal led desires
which rarely reach natural conclusions due to
interference and manipulation from elders, society
and guardians.
The key to
the show is asking the questions we aren’t
supposed to ask. If there’s nothing to hide,
why don’t we just talk about it?
An
extraordinary show written and performed with
phenomenal vigor by A Theatre company. For more
details go to www.myspace.com/atheatrecompany
|