Showing @ Tramway Theatre, Glasgow, until Sat 19 Nov – run ended
Headline grabbing buffoon Frankie Cocozza’s recent foray into cocaine has further sullied the reputation of reality TV (surprise surprise). The problem is, that underneath the layers of foundation and overstated voice-overs, the inflated dramatic moments lack the craft and momentum of actual drama. Nicholas Bone’s new production incorporates elements of X Factor and Ready Steady Cook, fortunately with a whimsical childishness that jump starts the stale format.
Presenter June Spoon (Pauline Knowles) introduces co-host/chef Phillip Fork (Stewart Cairns), explaining that the ominous Mr Granules (Tobias Wilson) is tonight’s guest diner and it’s their job to prepare the meal. Their methods however, interviewing vegetables and praying to a butcher, differ somewhat from standard practices.
David Fennessy’s score, at times performed with actual foodstuffs, coupled with David Shrigley’s Dr Seuss-esque prose brings a caricature quality to the characters reminiscent of Shrigley’s animated illustrations. The endearing vegetable puppets, simple food costumes and stylised pieces of set only strengthen this image of inherent silliness. Underlying the absurdity however the show oozes a theme of mistreatment to those of lower status, shown in the presenter’s treatment of the vegetables and Mr Granules’ behavior towards the hosts. Knowles’ constantly grinning Spoon typifies the sycophantic façade of reality broadcasting while Cairns’ bumbling Fork echoes the subservience of presenters to their producers. Supported by a depressed/alcoholic egg, a self-righteous banana and a hymn-singing butcher the nonsense occasionally borders on the realms of discomfort, similar to Monty Python.
But like the satirical sketch troupe, the most outlandish statements hold the strongest pertinence. The singing feces announcing that ‘everyone is shit’ becomes a statement about the quality of popular entertainment, while the disemboweling of Mr Granules serves as a metaphor for the oncoming adversity facing the general population to stand up to the ruling over-class. Sandwiched between the knife-sharp wit and biting satire lies a scathing examination of modern culture which parodies the scale of escalation seen in the modern world.