Writers & Directors: Laurence Cuthbert & Josh Mallalieu
Born of absurdity and fueled by a fantastical escalation of events, Escape for Dummies delivers 60 minutes of non-stop laughs in a high-stakes, surreal, camp piece of physical theatre that will delight audiences of all ages.
Two department store mannequins, alive and full of personality, take it upon themselves to escape the confines of their existence and discover the world that lies outside the shop doors. Their task, however, isn’t easy. By day, they must patiently wait through the waves of unruly and disruptive customers, and by night, they must distract and deceive the villainous shop manager and his two incompetent security guards so that they might finally break free.
Setting the tone as the audience enters, the auditorium is filled with the familiar sound of tannoy announcements from a disgruntled shop employee, and onstage, customers are happily browsing through the rails of clothes. Here, the production makes itself somewhat immersive, blurring the line between the shop floor and the space beyond, so that when the action begins, there is already plenty of investment from the audience.
Stepping beyond the uncanny valley, the two mannequins (played by Sam Morris and Alice Simmons) move in a puppet-like fashion, but their personalities land far beyond those of puppets or humans, making each of the mannequin characters something akin to a Harlequin. In comparison, the human characters (played by Laurence Cuthbert, Josh Mallalieu, and George Waring) are skillfully exaggerated to the extreme, but they never risk overstepping or overstaying their welcome on stage, making sure the show is kept at a consistent and entertaining pace.
The piece is certainly reminiscent of commedia dell’arte, bringing every element of traditional and modern non-verbal slapstick comedy into a familiar environment, and playing on the hopes and ambitions of its leading characters, also allowing moments of tenderness which seamlessly and non-intrusively provide a break from the action.
Escape For Dummies is a masterful production, providing high-quality conception, performance, and all-round entertainment worthy of the laughter they effortlessly bring about.
Runs until 24 August 2025
Camden Fringe runs until 24 August 2025
