Step into the surreal world of Arthur Sullivan’s ‘The Zoo’, where oversized penguins reign supreme. A ridiculous tale of hijinks and misunderstanding, ‘The Zoo’ follows two couples and their bumpy road to romance. Though obviously amateur, the performances are colourful and enthusiastic. The cast make a good attempt at the difficult vocal score, with moments of spectacular harmony; diction is impeccable and the complex plot conveyed nicely. The staging worked very well in the space, and there are moments of genuinely funny slapstick. Quirky knitted props also add to the surrealism of the piece, but occasionally the choreography is clumsy and some cast members looked slightly bewildered to be on stage. Overall, however, this is a thoroughly charming production.
Paradise In The Vault, 8 – 21 Aug (not 15), 9.30pm (10.15pm), £5.00 – £7.00, fpp235
tw rating 3/5
[am]
Sections: by Anna McDonald - ED2011 Theatre Reviews - tw rating 3/5 | Tags: Four Tarts and A Couple Of Pears, Paradise Venues
Also from ThreeWeeks...
ED2011 Theatre Review: Dostoevsky’s ‘Dreams Of A Ridiculous Man’ (George Dillon)
The lights go down on a dark, empty space – the cavernous soul of this ‘Ridiculous Man’. Effective lighting highlights the contours of Dillon’s face and the shadows of his...
ED2011 Theatre Review: Cautionary Tales (Runaground)
A physical theatre performance of Belloc’s ‘Cautionary Tales’ is a tough job but the cast makes the best of it. The poems’ dark comedy is showcased by actors who clearly relish...
ED2011 Musicals Review: Apply Within (Modus Operandi Theatre)
In this period of economic discontent, you’d think a topical musical dealing with the road to employment would be a winner. Sadly, you’d be wrong. This musical has the potential...
GET ALERTS OF NEW THREEWEEKS CONTENT: Click here to sign up to the free ThreeWeeks email

