one4review | On 05, Aug 2016

This thought provoking play is inspired by a Jeff Wall photograph of a room in complete disarray. Every night three actors gather in a living room and are videoed whilst a discussion is sparked off by one of the actors asking a question related to that photograph. Although they have no knowledge of the question beforehand the group skilfully bring the conversation around to the themes of the play. Unsettling subjects such as the threat to our comfortable lives from immigration, the voyeurism of watching fatal world events on the internet for ‘enjoyment’, the question of what we should face up to or turn away from in real life and on the internet, are all discussed whilst we as an audience also act as voyeurs listening into a private conversation whilst watching the group on stage and on screen.
As the conversation disintegrates into reprisals and accusations, the previously immaculate room also disintegrates around the actors who leave the stage before its ultimate destruction.
This was an unsettling, but very satisfying piece of work provoking much after show discussion between the audience members.
****
Reviewed by Rona
The Lyceum 6-8th August