What this performance lacks is emotional and structural depth, which is ironic for a play about a shop trading in emotions. The salesclerk would have missed the irony, having informed us that she was fresh out. ‘Pathos, Wholesale’, to the detriment of its sharp political message, is a little too consumed with the comical emotion-shop premise to work as anything other than a dilute Monty Python-esque sketch. Hayley Jeffrey’s performance depends on two imbalanced elements: delivering funny but tired one-liners, and acting as the empathetic Jeeves-like salesclerk who squirts emotions into co-actor Victoria Pinder’s mouth. ‘Cynicism’ and ‘Mild Irritation’ provide some colourfully humorous moments, but an impromptu turn of emotion and plot thrusts this emotional rainbow into monotone.
Princes Mall, 6 – 20 Aug, 2.15pm (2.55pm), free, fpp287.
tw rating 2/5
[pc]
Sections: by Paul Collins - ED2011 Theatre Reviews - tw rating 2/5 | Tags: PBH's Free Fringe, Rebel Base Productions
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