Writers: Matthew Howell and Jack Michael Stacey
From the team behind the 2024 ad 2025 Fringe sell-out Spy Movie: The Play comes a new production set in Plumstanton Library as its staff deal with the death of the Head Librarian following the collapse of shelving in the Agatha Christie section, the arrival of his replacement and the news that an Inspector is scheduled to visit. All of this is happening against the backdrop of declining customers, crumbling infrastructure and library closures across the region.
There is a slapstick element to the show with lights that repeatedly cut out, the search for a phone that was disconnected because no one ever called, and books and bookshelves being frantically moved to create the impression that its shelves are not as empty as they have actually become. The attempts of the new head librarian to turn the tide, motivate the staff and bring people back to the library are the source of some good visual gags and a successful parody of doomed to fail management tactics. The rest of the characters also conform to expected comedy stereotypes from the assistant head librarian who believes the job should be his through to the villainous library inspector who you know is going to be demanding, hard to please and arrive unexpectedly early.
With all of this in place, and with some funny but accurate observations of the fate of local libraries and the need to preserve them, it has all the ingredients needed for a classic mix of farce and social commentary. Sadly and surprisingly, it fails to deliver it. Many of the jokes are far too obvious and at times way too dated, the characters don’t come across as anything more than caricatures and, while the play bemoans the fate of local libraries, its depiction of them doesn’t make the case for them as cherished institutions that must be saved.
Runs until 31 August (not 17th, 24th) | Image: Contributed
