This one man show is set over a single day - the day that poor pigeon-phobic Jonathan meets his nemesis. John Wild plays the pigeon of the title who disrupts the life of an unsociable bank security guard and a range of other characters who in some way effect his ultimate bad day. Based on Patrick Suskind's novella The Pigeon, John Wild, directed by John Mowat, makes one man's existential crisis into a dark comedy. Though funny, he manages to retain the story's creepiness too: every character he plays - though supposedly in all innocence - seems to be deliberately driving Jonathan to suicidal thoughts.

It also ends on a disturbing note. But that aside, the true enjoyment is John Wild's brilliant depiction of the pigeon. As the play opens, some breadcrumbs are thrown onto the stage. From somewhere, cooing can be heard, louder and louder until out he struts, flapping an umbrella as a pair of wings and emitting utterly lifelike pigeon noises. Round he goes, eyeing the crumbs on the dusty stage floor until he pecks one up and swallows it down. His pigeon is not a nice personality. He plots Jonathan's downfall - simply by taking up residence in his bathroom - and predicts what such a trauma will mean to him. Yet he is so cheeky - with his performance peppered with music-hall-style routines singing 'What's he gonna do?' - that he is forgiveable. That, along with some clever one liners ('cross my breast!'), keeps the laughs coming.

There is a great contrast between the wicked pigeon and insular, terrified Jonathan - especially when John Wild steps from side to side playing both characters at once: he manages to switch character in the blink of an eye. At one point, he is playing three characters at the same time, with no other prop than the umbrella - which is a headscarf, an elaborate hat, a moustache and a tramp's cardboard home among other things. Every character has an impeccable accent and personality - from God, portrayed as a tough Texan general, to an incomprehensible drunk, to Jonathan's stately boss, who morphs into Winston Churchill in full 'We will never surrender' mode.

As John Wild waves goodbye at the end, he does so as each one of the characters. Of course, it is the pigeon who wins. A small point - it would make a very family-friendly show, especially with some of the ruder jokes, so it's perhaps a shame that it includes language unsuitable for children. It's thoroughly enjoyable.

Cast Credits: John Wild.

Company Credits: Writer of novella The Pigeon - Patrick Suskind. Writer - John Wild & John Mowat. Director - John Mowat. Technical Operator - uncredited. Producer - uncredited. Company - Go Wild Theatre Company.

END

(c) Bo Wilson 2008

reviewed Wednesday 20 August 08 / Etcetera Theatre, London

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com