REVIEW | Mr Punch, Alphabetti Theatre
★ ★ ★ ★
Reviewer - Stacy
*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
Set against the backdrop of modern England, this dark comedy projects the harsh elements that life can deal out. This two-hander is co-written and performed by Steve Byron and Joanna Geronimo.
Directed by Paula Penman, the movement on stage flowed freely between scenes, which is no mean feat in a small playing space. I found the balance between comedy and empathy hit the right levels.
Human interaction was at the heart of the narrative and some of the moving moments weren't in the monologues, but in the small encounters where people learn and grow as individuals.
There is a lot to learn from Ruth's story....even down to the fact that her name has been Westernised to make it easy for us, without any thought on how it makes her feel. The daily struggles she faces as a single parent, holding down 5 jobs in order to try and survive. But what came across was the determined optimism in her situation, both admirable and inspiring. Her contextual monologue was harrowing and moving, yet disturbing to think that this is just one of thousands of stories along the same lines. The use of shadow images, cleverly projected through a papered window helped to elevate the moment.
In Norman, played by Steve Byron, we find someone that is struggling to let go of a past, that has left him emotionally scarred. He tries hiding away from a tough family upbringing, in any bottle or can he can find. Like many, he uses these short fixes to stop the pain and block out the memories.
Within a fresh, evolving relationship with his new next door neighbour Ruth, Norman's past is brought to life through a puppet scene, that wouldn’t feel out of place in ‘The League Of Gentlemen’. These new neighbours are an unlikely pairing, that helps each other face the troubles they are both running away from.
Both actors do a wonderful job bringing these real world characters to life, with great emotion and darkly comic beats, that break up the tension so well. As it is early in the run, I could see and feel certain moments were still being felt out by the cast. Finding, feeling and feeding off the audience reactions, to make this a slicker, more honed piece of theatre moving forward.
Mr Punch is a play that has everything, comedy, puppetry, emotion, tragedy, dance, and something to say about the world today and those who live within.
At Alphabetti Theatre until 30 September.
