“Odd Couples – A Season Of One Act Comedies”
Presented By Kucom Theatre
Review by Vicky Bobeldyk
Kucom have been very busy in recent months. The installation of brand-new tiered seating has turned their once-bare, black-box performance space into a THEATRE! With 100 bright red, fresh smelling, comfortable seats, all raked to perfection there is not a bad seat in the house!
Each performance features three plays that, as the name suggests, all explore the relationship dynamics of several sets of couples who at first appear quite normal but turn out to be rather odd. But what is ‘normal’ in a modern relationship? Let us dive in and see…
The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish by David Tristram
Directed by Hayley Long
‘For Henry Smith life was rarely dull. For Alice Smith life was rarely anything else.’
In true Tristram hilarity, this brilliant little comedy features a couple married for many years; daydreamer Henry played expertly by Geoff Stuart-McLean and perfectionist housewife, Alice played by the consummate professional – Bronwyn Grannall, who nag, fight, annoy and tease one another inescapably. Whist at first, the couple seem locked in their every-day squabbles, simple but effective lighting changes clue us into their very complex and highly entertaining fantasy worlds.
In Henry’s daydreams, he is strong, athletic, an actor/comedian, a Casanova and President of the USA. For Alice, in her exotic fantasies, she is relentlessly pursued by lovers in naughty but clever scenarios. The only one on stage privy to both reality and fantasy is their goldfish – Orca. Does he have the strength to bring the two together? Stuart-McLean and Grannall are two of the most experienced actors in the region. They float through tricky dialogue with ease, bounce off each other and clearly have a wonderful rapport. It is a delight to see these two heavyweights in action. This play is a must-see for all aspiring actors for the lesson in ‘how it’s done’ alone.
Geoff Stewart-McLean as Henry and Bronwyn Grannall as Alice
What happens in the next two plays?
You’ll have to pick up next week’s newspaper for the final two reviews. Or, better yet, book tickets to Kucom’s performance and see the action for yourself this weekend!
Season at Kucom Theatre over two weekends:
Thurs - Sat 1-3 Feb at 7:30pm
Sun 4 Feb at 2pm (Matinee)
Thurs - Sat 8-10 Feb at 7:30pm.
Duration: 2 hours plus 2 x 20 min intervals
Contains adult content.
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/odd-couples-a-season-of-one-act-plays
