Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Other review sources
Also check out these publications for reviews:
1927
The Scotsman
SALLY J STOTT
UNDERBELLY (VENUE 61)
NINETEEN-twenties theatrical cabaret meets dark, surrealist humour in this effortless blend of animation and live action clowning. From the moment you step into the theatre, you are transported into a different era - one where the glamour of the silver screen prevails and there is always time for a cup of tea and a gingerbread man between musical sets.
Childhood games are intermixed with times gone by, as real life merges with fiction and film. The main achievement of theatre company 1927's theatrical extravaganza is the effortless way the two lovely performers (Suzanne Andrade and Esme Appleton) are absorbed into brilliantly conceived animation sequences (created by award-winning animator Paul Bill Barritt).
Barritt's visual imagination is a great accompaniment to writer/ performer Andrade's lyrically poetic script. It's great to see a play where live performance effortlessly merges with pre-recorded film - something that many companies attempt, but fail to pull off. Here, it's not only very well done, but creates striking and memorable images and ideas, as well as some great moments of physical humour.
A variety of vignettes form the basis for a story which doesn't really have a plot, just lots of recurring themes, in particular - somewhat bizarrely - the devil and the sea. The lack of a story might be problematic in something less well done, but here the pure spectacle of it all, along with Andrade and Barritt's unified vision, well and truly carry the audience along.
Among all the characters we get to know, two sinister sisters are the most striking. With all the RP accents, pale blue dresses and painted white faces, they have the dark appeal of a Stephen King horror film. When they choose a "new friend" from the audience to take the place of their dead grandmother, it is difficult to know whether they want to play with him or bury him in the woods.
This isn't a play that is concerned with any profound meanings, but it is a wonderfully surreal step outside everyday life.
Until 26 August. Today at 8.15pm
16 August 2007
