Writer and Director: Calum McArthur
Broken Gods Productions is taking up residence in the Drayton Arms Theatre for the next two weeks with a thrilling comedy play. The Cherry Orchid is an entertaining parody of the spy-action genre, building upon recognisable tropes to craft a crowd-pleasing, tongue-in-cheek experience.
From the moment a performer bursts onstage, showering panes of plastic everywhere, the ridiculous tone of the evening is established perfectly. This is a silly, fun and self-aware piece of comic theatre which doesn’t take itself too seriously. Even the structure of the production is unusual, separated into two very short acts which could easily be combined. Momentum is not lost, however, and the company’s entertaining and energetic performances make the evening fly past.
The central duo of Tom Lane and Gregor Copeland, as The Homeowner and Agent James King, have great chemistry and complement each other in their contrasting roles. Copeland has an infectious, playful energy which sweeps the audience up into the action, while Lane provides a more realistic and functional perspective of the unfolding chaos. Meanwhile, Hannah Clancy-Hughes pops up here, there and everywhere in a humorous range of multi-role disguises.
As the stereotypical macho man, Copeland is incredibly likeable despite the narcissistic caricature he represents. He clearly has fun mocking himself and works hard to find new ways to toy with the character throughout. Lane presents his high-strung and entertaining flustered role with great comic flair and skillfully proves to be more than meets the eye, revealing an unexpected resilience and intelligence. Clancy-Hughes has done great accent and physicality work to distinguish her many roles, and each eccentric character suitably matches the absurd nature of the show.
McArthur has a strong vision for The Cherry Orchid, and this production demonstrates the play’s potential very well. Excellent performances highlight the humour of the script, and significant effort has gone into the design elements to support the storytelling. With more time and funding to streamline their physical comedy, expand their arsenal of gag props, and generally upscale the production value, Broken Gods Productions could be onto something truly special.
Runs until 28 September 2024
The Reviews Hub Score
Absurd
