April 13, 2007
Insomnobabble is fast-paced, energetic and bonkers. Ironically for such a high-energy show it revolves around Keith, who can't sleep. His sanity is disintegrating around him and it's becoming hard to tell when he's awake and when he's not. Is he just dreaming he's got to give a presentation for which he's not prepared in front of a delegation of Japanese businessmen with only his cat to help him? Everywhere he sets foot quickly becomes a nightmare scenario. His office job is painfully dull and staffed with hideous caricatures, perhaps outcasts from The Office, and in the midst of all this he meets and then loses the love of his life, who may only be a figment of his imagination anyway.
It's a small cast. Mark Rutter plays Keith, Tim Lynskey Everybody Else. Lynskey is tall and lanky, with features which seem to mould themselves into a wide variety of other characters, from wispy Tamara to The Boss. The physical comedy is superb, perfectly played and perfectly suited to the performers. This is taylor-made comedy. Rutter has a superb early-morning mime sequence and several cringe-making dancing-in-front-of-boss-in-underwear scenes. He wears an expression of terror, confusion and embarrassment for the greater part of the evening.
The best scene for Lynskey's multiplicity is the Self-Help Group Keith finds himself taking part in, with six other insomniacs. Though they make a brief appearance these characters have distinct mannerisms, accents and body language. At one point a fight breaks out. As poor Keith tries to bear his soul Lynskey dashes around the stage insulting, fighting and calming himself. It's hilarious. And since this is the Burton Taylor it's almost taking place in audience's lap.
There's not much thread to the plot, and I felt the attempt to unveil and explanation for the story weakened it. But then the mission statement of Big Wow Theatre is "to turn pissing about into an artform". They do this admirably, they suit the parts perfectly, they show off what they can do and they know their medium. I'm sure there are people who think theatre has or should have been replaced by film. These guys prove why theatre's alive and kicking. Whatever the show's faults Rutter and Lynskey pull it off through sheer and relentless enthusiasm. Definitely worth seeing, but it'll make you tired just watching it!
It's a small cast. Mark Rutter plays Keith, Tim Lynskey Everybody Else. Lynskey is tall and lanky, with features which seem to mould themselves into a wide variety of other characters, from wispy Tamara to The Boss. The physical comedy is superb, perfectly played and perfectly suited to the performers. This is taylor-made comedy. Rutter has a superb early-morning mime sequence and several cringe-making dancing-in-front-of-boss-in-underwear scenes. He wears an expression of terror, confusion and embarrassment for the greater part of the evening.
The best scene for Lynskey's multiplicity is the Self-Help Group Keith finds himself taking part in, with six other insomniacs. Though they make a brief appearance these characters have distinct mannerisms, accents and body language. At one point a fight breaks out. As poor Keith tries to bear his soul Lynskey dashes around the stage insulting, fighting and calming himself. It's hilarious. And since this is the Burton Taylor it's almost taking place in audience's lap.
There's not much thread to the plot, and I felt the attempt to unveil and explanation for the story weakened it. But then the mission statement of Big Wow Theatre is "to turn pissing about into an artform". They do this admirably, they suit the parts perfectly, they show off what they can do and they know their medium. I'm sure there are people who think theatre has or should have been replaced by film. These guys prove why theatre's alive and kicking. Whatever the show's faults Rutter and Lynskey pull it off through sheer and relentless enthusiasm. Definitely worth seeing, but it'll make you tired just watching it!