The Rest of the World is contemporary observational drama from a cast of 7 (3F 4M) in two acts (55 min, 15 min interval, 45 min)

Maggie (Sophie Talbot), Katerina (Eleanor Lawrence), Grace (India Fisher) work in a call-centre doing customer care for banks, the National Portrait Gallery, porn, product guarantees. Polish Katerina vomits to stay skinny and aims to win TV celebrity gameshow Size Zero Hero. Friendless Grace has a loveless life in fear of and bruised by unseen beating husband Martin; her outlet is work and reading about celebrities. Maggie has a teenage son Lucas (Jack Bence) who lives online making online friends and getting into debt via his Second-Life-type avatar - which has led him into real-world stealing from mother. Maggie is pregnant by generally-absent world-citizen Pete (Jackson Wright), who has returned briefly with his backpack before setting off to build a village in Botswana rather than looking after his expected child. Jim (Barrie Wilmore) is a tramp who sleeps outside Maggie's office; he's an ex-professional dancer full of real-world knowledge, particularly of London's blue plaques (on buildings saying who lived there in the past). Anderson (Ian Edwards) is a small-time photographer who trades blow-jobs from Katerina for photos and advancement through the gameshow.

Tramp Jim takes Maggie and son Lucas on a day exploring the reality of walking round London, releasing some happiness in them. Katerina finds fame is quite enjoyable but friendship can be more real. Pete doesn't change much. Grace gains an unexpected friend. The play ambles slowly through its 100 minutes describing aspects of contemporary life that seem readily familiar. The play doesn't particularly satirise what it explores so much as present it. The characters are more or less stock figures - self-absorbed smelly backpacker, tramp brimming with humanity, battered friendless wife, East European slapper, saintly single mother, online grumpy teenager, rancid paparazzo. The script, by Paul L Martin generally has the feeling of everyday dialogue. Director Becky Finlay-Hall delivers the play in a fairly realistic way. It's a difficult area - quite a lot of what is described in the play already satirises itself.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Jack Bence - Lucas. Ian Edwards - Anderson. India Fisher - Grace. Eleanor Lawrence - Katerina. Sophie Talbot - Maggie. Barrie Wilmore - Jim. Jackson Wright - Pete.

Company Credits: Writer - Paul L Martin. Director - Becky Finlay-Hall. Set Designer - Keith Lodwick. Lighting Designer - Jess Carney with Nicole Nyqvist. Sound Designer & VJ- Ozge Caysever. Costumes - Emma Coates. Props - Keith Lodwick. Lighting Operator - Jess Carney. Animation - Tim Marchant. Rehearsal Space - N4 Studios. Programme - Alessio di Capua. Flyer/Poster Design - Overthrow Productions. Producers - MMP Ltd & Olive Branch Theatre. Landor Theatre: Artistic Director - Robert McWhir. Box Office - Nina Morley

END

John Park

reviewed Wednesday 14 November 07 / Landor Theatre.

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008