TALKSEXSHOW, Davies, Volcan Touring till 7 December.
TALKSEXSHOW
by Paul Davies. Volcano Theatre: www.volcanotheatre.co.uk
On tour :
25-30 Nov: Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff: 029 2030 4400
02-07 Dec: New Vic Studio, Bristol Old Vic: 0117 987 7877
Runs 1hr 15 minutes. No interval
Review Mark Courtice, Lighthouse, Poole. 22nd November 2002
Limp satire goes off at half cock.
Paul Davies bounces through the auditorium on his way to the stage - he is the Guru about to lead us on a journey to sexual self improvement with the help of two white clad acolytes. We are at a seminar, a talk show, a new age revivalist meeting, and we (as well as they) are going to be talking about sex. The assistants will demonstrate how, film of monkeys on the screen above their heads will reveal the roots of it all, and even strategically placed lilies will be pressed into service to put the art into sex.
In Volcano's show all this fails to hit the g-spot. Davies does not come across as either engaging, or horrifying. Because he does not have the skill to handle the audience, those sections where he works the room are forced and tired. The talk show hosts he is satirising are uninterested in the people who appear on their slags and slagging off shows, but at least they know how to fake it. The two assistants are hapless and hopeless, but we never really understand why; the film material is banal and obvious and if watching aroused monkeys is your idea of fun, go to the zoo.
The setting is a white slope with an egg shaped chair at the centre. The cast writhe around on the chair and career almost completely aimlessly around the space created. This lack of focus is the besetting sin of the piece itself, it has no real view about love, sex, talk shows, or the guru phenomenon that could underpin the satire or jokes, so neither work. Nor does the show have the courage of its lack of conviction, everything is slightly twee, from the nude suits to the endless film of opening plants. The obvious and easy target is always the one aimed at, and is often missed. After 75 minutes I had written my shopping list, made a map of South America from the cracks on the ceiling, and all I really wanted was a nice cup of tea.
The Guru: Paul Davies
The Man: Eric MacLennan
The Woman: Rachael Harrison
Written by: Paul Davies
Director: Helen Bailey
Set and Lighting Designed by: Andrew Jones
Video: Owen Oppenheimer
2002-11-26 09:06:52