ED2015 3/5 Reviews ED2015 Theatre Reviews

Much Further Out Than You Thought (theMolinoGroup)

By Andy Leask | Published on Sunday 16 August 2015

The past hovers ominously, a spectre, throughout this haunting production. A soldier, veteran of the Afghanistan campaign, is delivering a message to his son, trying to explain the effects of war, to justify the toll it has taken on their relationship. The staging is simple, yet profoundly effective: armchair, table, TV, set upon the barren sands of Helmand province. Unfortunately, to me the delivery, though emotional throughout, feels a little overly performed at times. Tragically – and appropriately – it is at its best during flashbacks to the war. A fitting directorial decision, but one that slightly diminishes the rest of the play. The plot holds few surprises, but the tragic inevitability is powerful, adding to the dreamlike tone of the play.

Underbelly, until 30 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Andrew Leask]