It's hard to say what this play is about, or even exactly what is seen. It seems to be two men pretending to be actors claiming to pretend to be pilots - but not actually pretending to be pilots, until the end when they are. Confusing? Yes.

Tim Ingram and Mole Wetherwell are the actors, and play the parts well. It begins with them sat in the audience, discussing the play they're about to rehearse. The set is highly detailed with a collection of props and stage equipment which set the scene well. But this strong beginning quickly bogs down - and it's hard to keep up with what's going on. After a while it's clear that they are rehearsing the rehearsal that's being shown. Sometimes, this works well, with the intensive dramatic layering bringing some very funny moments. Sometimes it is just bewildering. Luckily, the opening is followed by a funny version of Ground Control To Major Tom - welcome light relief that re-energises the action.

The actors openly address their faults, suggesting that they are deliberately included. A good example of this is a feeling early on of not connecting with the characters, or caring about them - and they discuss this as being a problem. A telling line is 'I'm a bit worried we're not involving them'. They don't, and it makes it difficult to enjoy the play.

There's a confusing middle section with the actors going back and forth over the script. They often repeat themselves or break character to comment on the action (none of which actually makes much sense). But the play picks up towards the end and it becomes clear that there are two gifted comic actors onstage. The play is laced with occasional dark humour. This comes to the fore in an impressive piece of staging in which the two became more and more worked up, taking the audience with them, until suddenly Tim Ingram smashes his head against a microphone and begins to bleed. It's so well done that people gasp. He appears to pass out or die, and tension mounts - till suddenly they break character again, getting the biggest laugh of the night. Unfortunately it then all gets bogged down again in its own complex narrative structure. At the end there's a feeling of 'what is it?', which frustratingly the actors have already anticipated in their dialogue.

The Pilots may divide opinion over whether it's as clever as it thinks it is. Much of tonight's audience looks distracted - hard to blame that: the narrative is just too complicated and the characters too one-dimensional to connect with. It's not OK to acknowledge those failures in the text and do nothing about them. If a play is about entertaining - and many audiences may have this expectation - then based on tonight's reaction, it fails. Towards the end Tim Ingram asks 'Where are we going with this?' Good question.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Tim Ingram - Actor. Mole Wetherwell - Actor.

Company Credits: Writers (alpha order) - Tim Ingram & Mole Wetherwell. Director - uncredited. Technical Operator - John Bradford. Producer - uncredited. Company - Reckless Sleepers.

END

(c) Matthew Rose 2009

reviewed Wednesday 1 April 2009 / Burton Taylor Studio, Oxford UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com