ED2015 4/5 Reviews ED2015 Theatre Reviews

CELL (Smoking Apples And Dogfish)

By Gemma Scott | Published on Saturday 22 August 2015

When Ted, an avid stamp collector, finds out he has Motor Neurone Disease, he decides to go on holiday. With his pet goldfish. Here he finds companionship, irritating travellers and good coffee. Ted is a puppet, controlled by three superbly skilled puppeteers, and is gorgeously lifelike – his exasperated sighs and tiny nods to the audience are a joy. The on-stage sound effects and shadow puppetry are also inventive and beautifully done. At times, Ted’s degeneration is almost unbearable to watch, as we see him increasingly struggle, until even getting out of his chair is impossible. Though the gentle, quiet pace of this wordless piece may not be to everyone’s taste, this is a poignant, heart-aching piece of theatre.

Underbelly, until 30 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Gemma Scott]