Gizmo Love, The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre till 23 September

Birmingham

GIZMO LOVE,
by John Kolvenbach.

ATC Theatre Company
The Door: Birmingham Repertory Theatre to 23 September 2006
Runs: 1h 15m: no interval
Start: 7.45p.m.

TICKETS: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Review: Jan Pick: 19.9.06.

‘Strangely strange ………. But oddly normal’
Locked away in a room on a film lot, the door imprinted with an old poster of Gone With The Wind, and decorated with a cactus that seems to have wandered in from a Texas Western, lonely dreamer Ralph waits, his life’s work and meaning stored in the box he carries with him. Cue scriptwriter Manny, sent by an invisible and godlike producer to turn Ralph’s story into a commercial hit. Ralph, it seems, has sold his dream, hoping that seeing it on film, others will be able to understand him better through sharing it, and he will be able to break away from his isolated existence.

Locked in together, the two men manage to come to some understanding of each other and the strange other world of Ralph – but it isn’t enough. Add to the mix two decidedly odd hit men, and the stage is set for a surreal journey into the world of the screenwriter – yet, how much of what we are watching is actually happening? What is real in this strange environment and what is fantasy? Are we inside Ralph’s box, or on the outside in the real world?

‘Gizmo Love’, written by John Kolvenbach and performed by ATC touring company, is a gripping piece of theatre, with great performances from Toby Dantzic as Ralph, struggling to communicate whilst protecting his fantasies, holding the fate of his world and the fictional people that inhabit it in his hands, and Peter Polycarpou as Manny, desperate to produce something, at last, which he can take pride in. Paul M Meston adds solid support as hit man Max, with Samuel Roukin as his trigger-happy stooge.

The set is designed to fill the space of the Door and hint at vaster spaces beyond, and the clever lighting, imitating a strip of film, occasionally casts larger than life shadows onto a white screen behind the actors, adding an edge of menace to the atmosphere.

As the play draws to an unexpectedly shocking close, there is a cliff-hanger ending. What will become of Doreen, Ralph’s beautiful siren, whose allure transcends her fictional world? She may not really exist, yet thanks to a terrific piece of theatre, we care about her fate.

Ralph: Toby Dantzic
Manny: Peter Polycarpou
Max: Paul M Meston
Thomas: Samuel Roukin

Director: Matt Wilde
Designer: Lisa Lillywhite
Lighting: Tim Mascall
Sound: Nick Manning
Original Music: Ben Hales

2006-09-21 13:46:15