Having the titles of scenes scribbled onto a projector which beams them onto a sheet hanging from a washing line, ‘Phantasmagoria’ has a makeshift feel that is often inventive and rarely gimmicky. The play follows three friends at different stages of their lives, and the structure often offers brief flashes of the indie stylings of directors such as Michel Gondry or Charlie Kaufman (although, naturally, with still a way to go in order to compete in the same field). With such innovative set design, it’s a shame that the writing and occasionally acting is not as honed; there’s great potential for this performance to go even further if some of the clichés holding it back were dropped.
The Merchants’ Hall, 18 – 29 Aug, 8.35pm (9.35pm), £5.00 – £7.00, fpp288.
tw rating 3/5
[ljc]
Sections: by Laura Cress - ED2011 Theatre Reviews - tw rating 3/5 | Tags: Spotlites, University of Manchester Drama Society
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