ED2011 2/5 Reviews ED2011 Theatre Reviews

The Tour Guide (Gary Roden Productions Ltd)

By | Published on Tuesday 30 August 2011

It’s a shame that this open-top theatrical bus tour is bizarrely constructed and poorly realised. Welcoming us aboard with stickers and ponchos, Ian Hanmore creates this peculiar character for himself: a veteran conductor who’s taking the final tour of his life, accompanied by pockets of sadness and despair as he reveals trouble with his home life. Intending to show how he can’t let go of the old social values and historical roots of the city, Hanmore instead confuses his role and perplexes the audience. His narration is amiable enough, but he never develops the density and frailty of his character, meaning every reference to his unhappiness is unfortunately disordered and uncomfortable.

Jeffrey Street, 3 – 28 Aug (not 8, 15, 22), times vary, £5.50 – £14.50, fpp305.
tw rating 2/5
[ajl]



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