Monday 20 August 2012

ED2012 Theatre Review: Shopping Centre by Matthew Osborn

Jim is a man disillusioned with society: an anti-liberal with a David Cameron fetish. We see him seeking refuge from the real world, in the basement of a shopping centre, as a full-scale riot erupts upstairs. As the protagonist in this one-man play, Matthew Osborn gives a stellar performance and his deadpan delivery is highly effective. He is both mysterious and engaging as misfit Jim, combining the drama of the emotional climaxes with incredibly witty one-liners. Unfortunately, the script lets him down slightly- the overall pace is too slow and feels slightly repetitive. But it’s hard to stop wondering about just who Jim is and how he got that way.

Gilded Balloon at Third Door, 1-26 Aug (not 13, 20), 4.30pm.
tw rating 3/5 | [Anna McDonald]

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