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Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Published on Sunday, 25 August 2013
3

3 stars

C venues - C nova (venue website)
Theatre
11-26 Aug, 4:30pm-5:20pm
Reviewed by Ellen Macpherson

 Parents or guardians should consider the content of this show if children are attending.

Half past four in the afternoon is a good time for a little romantic comedy. This one, typical of its genre, won't be particularly taxing on your mental capacity. But hey, after all the violent reformed Shakespeare and techno-experimental theatre and interpretive dance I’m sure you've seen, it's kind-of nice to get back to basics, with a nostalgic piece that reminds you of a decade or two ago.

Set in an AM/FM radio (that's right, literally right inside the radio; it's like your childhood perception of technology has come to life), this interesting little play tells the farcically tragic love story of AM and FM. Both of them are in love with the other, but – separated by technology and a meddling tape deck – they seem resigned to never meet. It's not exactly rocket science, but it is heartwarming. The play provides a good few chuckles too, and it’s a winner for all ages. The audience ranged from teenagers to baby boomers, and all of them had a good time.

The script is filled to the brim with puns and physical gags, so if that sort of obvious comedy isn't your schtick, I would suggest seeing something else. However if (like me) you might laugh surprisingly hard at the interruption of swashbuckling buccaneers in the middle of a scene as a nod to pirate radio, you're likely to enjoy the rest of the play.

Some of the one-liners probably didn't go down as well as the company might have hoped for, perhaps because the delivery was a little rushed. Overall, however, the play is well acted by the young cast of the Dryden Society. AM and FM are particularly endearing. Deck does get tend to grate on the nerves a little after a while, but I suppose that's the point, and more down to writing and directing that acting choices.

The performance ends a little abruptly, and with a twist that stops it from being the happy-ever-after that might have been expected. I'm all for a good plot twist, but in this case I thought it unnecessary; it came at a time where the play was already wrapped up quite nicely. Still, it garnered a few knowing chuckles from the majority of the audience, so perhaps I should attribute that to personal preference.

Regardless, this is a lovely little afternoon play. It's nothing revolutionary, but it does provide a little break from the sometimes overwhelming theatre offerings of the Fringe. You'll walk out smiling... and probably looking a little differently at your kitchen radio!

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