Mother at the Network Theatre ☆☆☆
The Vault Festival London
Cursed with the worst of all the Vault Festival venues, away from the main campus, down a side street only accessed via a fire exit that requires a guide to find, the Mother team’s improv skills come in handy in incorporating disgruntled latecomers into their act. Thankfully.
The improve roots of what Laura Curnick and Jack Mosedale do shines throughout the performance. It is a set full of momentary inspirations, some developed into full sketches others thin sliced observations of some of the grit that works its way under everybody’s skin. The grit sometimes creates a pearl, sometimes not.
Their observations of people sparked howls of recognition from the audience. The Conveyor Belt of Awful People being the best of them, their trick being to find stereotypes that are familiar but not obvious. The audience was delighted by The Person Who Thinks They Know What You Are Going To Say followed by The Person With the Too Loud Thinking Voice, The Person Who Over Shares, The Person Who Outsings Everyone At Karaoke, The Person Who Does Not Know What to Say on Voicemail, and many, many more. Each a flash of humanity that we have met repeatedly in our lives. But as Laura and Jack say, in this game, ‘if you recognize yourself you lose”.
The improv origins create a sense of randomness that made it seem fresh but disjointed. Brilliant situational creations like their version of the weekly HR meeting where there is the clear corporate intent to suffocate wrapped in the pretense of inviting comment could end up as their own wonderful web series. Other parts seemed to just be an excuse to do a particulate accent the performers enjoyed doing.
Tied loosely together by excerpts from their diaries that recount their back stories and how they met there is a spark between the two that is both original and infectious for the audience. Playing for one more night we encourage people to go but only if you can allow an extra 20 minutes to find them
Until Feb 2nd
https://vaultfestival.com/whats-on/mother/
Review by Andrew HebdenQueerguru Contributing Editor ANDREW HEBDEN is a MEDIA & CULTURAL STUDIES graduate spending his career between London, Beijing and NYC as an expert in media and social trends. As part of the expanding minimalist FIRE movement he recently returned to the UK and lives in Soho. He devotes as much time as possible to the movies, theatre and the gym. His favorite thing is to try something (anything) new every day.
Labels: 2020, Andrew Hebden, London Theatre, review, The Vault Festival
