Low Down

An inventive piece of physical theatre from The Paper Birds, focusing on our lives in bed. The obvious subject of sex, was covered in spades as well as less apparent selections like death and depression.

Review

40 Feathered Winks was fragmented in style, merging the stories of eight different characters as the cast weaved from, in, out and under a variety of beds, and between plain white screens. In the midst of the near-constant movement the company achieved some very visual perspectives on the set, turning beds upright, joining sections and pulling them apart. 

The show was at its strongest when the cast was working as an ensemble, moving in unison, and at times transforming the stage into something completely unexpected. Particularly involving physical sequences featured an estranged couple hiding behind their bedtime reading and a sister alluding to a Spanish holiday that she was meant to have taken with her comatose sibling. 

The weakness of the show was that at times it was repetitive, certain strands revisited the same aspect of the play’s narrative again and again without delving any deeper or taking things in a new direction. 

Also the piano based score that accompanied the piece, while an effective way of bringing the show together, was at times emotionally heavy-handed, overshadowing the performance of the actors. That said the cast did work well with the sparse dialogue, which was largely well observed, triggering chuckles of acknowledgement from the audience - especially the sickeningly cute, first flush of a relationship. 

All in all, the play was stylish and performed with panache but occasionally suffered from a lack of subtlety.

Reviewed by DS 11/08/07

Website : http://www.thepaperbirds.com/