ED2017 1/5 Reviews ED2017 Theatre Reviews

Goody (BoonDog Theatre)

By Alexander Hartley | Published on Tuesday 22 August 2017

Francis, a drifter who has stumbled into monkey training at a circus, shares the stage with the eponymous ape, played with some dexterity by Goody’s writer, Lucy Roslyn. Her script, unfortunately, is not so dextrous: it plods around, repeating itself as it ambles toward nowhere. Francis and Goody must rehearse “one perfect show” to impress the circus boss and avoid the recalcitrant monkey’s euthanasia. But any suspense is buried amid the static, half-hearted performances. Goody understands some of what Francis says then, halfway through, inexplicably gains the power of speech – a coup de theatre that confuses without adding interest. Under-directed and claustrophobic, the play can only rest on its central relationship, but it’s one that’s hard to care about.

Pleasance Courtyard, until 28 Aug.
tw rating 1/5 | [Alexander Hartley]