REVIEW: 'A comical tragedy or a tragical comedy'. This was the question posed to the Tealby thespians who attended 'Network of Stuff's' production of 'The Unsinkable Clerk' in the Village Hall last Thursday evening.
The show also played at Wickenby and Caistor on subsequent nights. It was a tour de force of comic fantasy, absurdist daydream and literary allusion.
The play involved just two characters, one of which is Mr Plumley, a picture of middle class respectability and utter predictability who suffers a live changing event in which his whole world is turned upside down.
Inside a whale's stomach he comes across (well he would, wouldn't he] Jonah. Will he be up for the challenge, or will he sink without trace?
Felix Hayes' Mr Plumley was a performance of outstanding energy. His character plumbed the depth of pathos, tragedy and uncalled-for optimism while at the same time letting the audience experience this through what seemed an insouciant commentary on his own situation.
Images of Wisdom, Marceau and Keaton were marvellously combined into a character everyone in the audience desperately wanted to survive.
Andrew Payton (Jonah/Poseidon) was a perfect foil. The ensemble playing was perfect. A character of simple charm one moment and unscrupulous deviousness the next, his marvellous gesticulations bestowed his character with an aura of the Commedia dell Arte.
On another level too the performance was full of parody and dare I say it - in Tealby - post-modern flirtation with parody and fractured narrative .
Crammed with literary, biblical and cinematic references - The Tempest being the most obvious - The Unsinkable Clerk was terrific entertainment - touching, thought provoking and very, very funny.
Mention should be made too of the excellent sound effects and music, controlled by Tom Warwick, and the set which created a terrific atmosphere for the players and audience.
And in case you were wondering, Mr Plumley did make it back for the 5.44 to Penge East, stopping at Bromley North, Bromley South and all stations west.
Of course, it's back to work as usual tomorrow isn't it, Mr. Plumley?
• This review was contributed by David Kirshner of Tealby. If you want to share your views and reviews of any play - or anything - email Jason.hippisley@jpress.co.uk .
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This is how we reported that the play was coming to the area
NETWORK of Stuff kick off their tour of Lincolnshire village venues at Tealby next week with their new play, The Unsinkable Clerk.
From Tealby, the play moves to the Broadbent Theatre, Wickenby on Friday 13 and back to Caistor Town Hall on Saturday 14. All shows at 7.30pm
An hilarious, yet strangely moving tale of two men who find themselves thrown together in the belly of a whale and their accidental adventure to a waterfall at the edge of the world.
The play tells of Mr Plumley, a fine example of middle England - middle class, middle mindedness, a creature of habit. But when change comes, out of the blue, will he be up to the challenge.
The Unsinkable Clerk is full of theatrical magic, absurd images, difficult decisions and flotilla of rubber ducks.
The tour is part of the county's acclaimed Rural and Community Touring Scheme, which brings live professional arts to local people at local venues.
The Unsinkable Clerk is at each venue for one night only.
• Tickets at Tealby, £7 (£6 pre-booked), children £3 - from Gill on 01673 838130 or Tealby Shop, 01673 838718.
Broadbent: £7 and £5.50, box office 01673 885500 or www.broadbent.org
Caistor: £7 and £5. There is a 50p reduction from the Post Office.
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