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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Hot Property
Verdict: Property market comedy
The deal of a lifetime is about to be lost over hamburgers. Four flat-owners argue, coax and scheme their way down the slippery road of amateur real-estate. Inspired by the frenzy that surrounds the London property market, writer Brenda Gottsche’s new play, Hot Property observes with humour the various degrees of greed that take place during the sale.
Pithy, deftly written, the scenes snap back and forth between the four owners. Richard Earthy leers as the archetypal stingy millionaire Neville. Martin Wimbush gives an excellent performance as jaded businessman Ben. Lindsay Mohun excels as Ingrid, feisty feminist academic. Stefanie Moore pulls off flighty young actress Charlie.
Reminiscent of all those good British situation comedies, the hysteria escalates as it did in Rising Damp, as the characters’ motives for making the deal are examined. Set in Holland Park, a global burger-chain puts in an offer that some of the residents find hard to refuse, only for it to be rejected on moral grounds by the others. Battle-lines appear and campaigns commence to win over the objecting parties.
The set is an appropriately modern bland kitchen, bespoke Ikea, with subsidence down one of the walls. There’s jazz - Cole Porter’s Night and Day floats above the action as Neville hums tunelessly out of time.
It’s an insight into selfishness and its consequences. Principles are forgotten. Underhand tactics are deployed. An Englishman’s home may no longer be his castle, but as a pile of bricks and mortar it’s ready to sell at a high profit. Everyone has a price, but it’s paid in friendship and trust. This is sensitively evoked in scenes between manipulative Charlie (Stefanie Moore) and conscience-stricken Ingrid (Lindsay Mohun).
The rapid exchanges leave little room for audience reflection or the actors to bring any true depth to their characters, but with original comic lines like ‘How much do you need? Very little it seems - that’s why I’m moving to Norfolk’ and ‘My idea of heaven is France populated by Australians’, the play’s smooth superficiality is forgivable. The narrative bubbles along like an estate agent’s patter, brightly-peppered with wry observation. The conclusion is predictable, but the storytelling still engages. With balanced and believable performances, it’s an enjoyable comedy with welcome lightness of touch.
Cast Credits: (alpha order): Neville - Richard Earthy. Ingrid - Lindsay Mohun. Charlie - Stefanie Moore. Ben - Martin Wimbush.
Company Credits: Writer - Brenda Gottsche. Director - Jeremy Bond. Set Design - Lily Barcroft. Lighting design - Julian McCready. Costume Designer - Melanie Bond. Music by - Zap! Music. Stage Manager - Claire Elcombe. Set Builder - Graham Gottsche. Flyer Design - Insect. Marketing and PR - Dan Pursey at Mobius Industries.
END
(c) Alana Pryce 2005
reviewed Thursday 21 April 05 / Old Red Lion Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
