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ED2014 4/5 Reviews ED2014 Theatre Reviews
Smoking Ban (RedBellyBlack)
By Hannah Cutting | Published on Saturday 23 August 2014
This play took me by surprise. It opens with shiny Americanised charm, manicured gesticulations and flawless accents. It was immediately funny, but the humour was at the level of miming sex acts. However this one-woman show subtly unfurls to reveal a nuanced character study and reflection upon social pressures of compliance. Kate Goodfellow’s multi-rolling is masterful; her portrayal of protagonist Carol (who could have stepped off the set of ‘Mad Men’), middle-aged boss Jerry and an array of office gossips are highlights. The plot was occasionally jumpy, and lighting changes between scenes seemed unnecessary and it was uncertain what these changes indicated. However this is a stellar performance by Goodfellow in a slick, thought-provoking comedy.
theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, until 23 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Hannah Cutting]
