Monday, 10 September 2012

An Incident at the Border

an-incident-at-the-border.jpgTNT
Only days before seeing this slight but enjoyable West End transfer from the tiny Finborough, I got caught up in my own personal battle of crossing a line. With just 59 minutes left to spend in one of my favourite haunts, I was refused entry because last admissions were an hour before closing time.
So when a romantic young couple, happily ensconced on a park bench watching the ducks, are suddenly divided by a new border being drawn between them – and forbidden to cross over by a military jobsworth - they definitely won my sympathy.
Entertaining though it is, Kieran Lynn’s short new play isn’t really much more than an over-extended comic sketch with serious undertones. But the three performances are winning - Florence Hall’s Olivia trying to keep up with the local politics which have suddenly seen her country split in two by a roll of tape, Tom Bennett’s laidback Arthur who fancies leading the easy life of a duck untroubled by important issues, and Marc Pickering as the goofy border guard in full combat gear whose intransigence - and confusion over the functioning of his stun gun - far outweigh his brainpower.

Trafalgar Studios 2
Whitehall, SW1A 2DY
Until 15th September, £20
Tube | Charing Cross
atgtickets.com/trafalgarstudios

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