Low Down
“Is there any feeling more satisfying than not being held accountable for your actions?” Review
Dr Ratner (played by Jonathan Hansler) is an eccentric psychiatrist who has surrendered the direction of his life to the roll of dice, and encourages his patients to do the same; abandoning habit, eschewing responsibility and revelling in randomness.
Like all good farces, the production interweaves numerous comic elements towards a car-crash resolution scene. The writing is tight and witty, and the delivery is, at times, exceptionally sharp. Stephen Glover’s direction keeps the visual gags coming thick and fast, and the production offers a good measure of gore and sauce; enough to provoke hearty laughs from the main and a guilty chuckle from any prudes at the back.
The beauty of this production for me, however, was in the variety and strength of the characters. Each new individual offers an entirely different subplot, a hilarious set of mental issues and a well physicalised character, the juxtaposition of which with others is an absolute joy to watch. Matthew (Philip Chamberlin)’s meek, cardi-sporting ribbon obsessive makes a fantastic complement to the assertive schemester Dr Drabble (played superlatively by Neal Foster). A particular gem is the frightfully posh Mr Smith (Phineas Pett), whose dastardly sexual exploits and ensuing bad luck, have led him to believe there is a vendetta upon him. His childlike willingness to obey the less-than desirable outcomes of the dice, coupled with a bevy of hideous misfortunes made him a fast favourite in the show.
Emma Pile’s chaotic set design strikes a happy partnership between a late night cheese-muncher’s dreamscape and a kindergarten classroom; scattered objects hanging haphazardly from the walls and ceiling, snooker-green dice in abundance, and the chalk scrawlings of Ratner’s theory across the back wall. Spot on.
Like the patients, you must, and do, begin to surrender to the randomness and revel in the joyous chaos that dice-led decisions create. There were minimal lags in tension, but on the whole, Silver Thread’s production of The Dice House was ambitious but polished; well cast and a joy to see. Top fringe theatre!
In the spirit of the piece, I am letting the dice decide the manner in which I conclude this review.
…4 = a quote from the show: “Cock of a son of a ladyboy!”
Reviewed by Tanith Lindon 13th January 2009 Website : |
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