David Rubin and Sophie Woolley play - with increasing pace - the many characters who gather around or pass by Emir's kebab shop, somewhere in West London. There's a dysfunctional girl intent on mayhem, a drunk from Liverpool, a posh drunk female artist, a couple of policemen, a woman who can't cope with her baby, two builders, an East European woman who wants her cat back from her ex-lover, a man walking his dog, a geriatric pervert - and the cat and dog. The production is supported throughout by projections, and there are captions for the deaf. (Sophie Woolley has a congenital condition that is leading to her own deafness).

To carry the increasingly frenetic action requires a virtuoso performance from the two actors. That is delivered, certainly as the action winds into frenzy. As a showcase for what can be done on a stage by two actors, it couldn't be better. The whole complex production comes together impressively under the direction of Gemma Fairlie.

The world of Fight Face is urban and bleak. Fights, arson, the scrabble for identity, drink, drugs and theft are never too far away, and the problems are concentrated by the pressures of people living on top of each other. There is a lot of dark humour too, but laughter may depend on how closely the individual's life is touched by a world with problems like this. As a whole, Fight Face is enjoyable and entertaining, though whether it helps give a deeper understanding of the world and the pressures of urban life is open to question. Maybe just to describe this slice of West London life is enough.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): David Rubin. Sophie Woolley

Company Credits: Writer - Sophie Woolley. Director - Gemma Fairlie. Designer - Morgan Lange. Lighting - Ben Pacey. Sound Designer - Steve Mayo. Projection & Animations - Douglas O'Connell. Cat & Dog Animations - Steve May. Technical Operator - uncredited. Production Manager - Georgina Alexander. Assistant Director / Caption Adviser - Alex Romeo. Stage Manager - Billy Hiscoke. Press / PR - Jenny Paton. Producer - uncredited. Company - Lyric Hammersmith.

END

(c) Michael Spring 2008

reviewed Thursday, 18 September 2008 / Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, London

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com