I've had the privilege of seeing this show before, back at the Edinburgh Festival and also the company's 'Ice Hole', their other piece of genius.
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| Photo by Fabienne Rappeneau |
I was super excited to witness 'Fishbowl' for a second time for their West End debut and I certainly wasn't disappointed.
The basic plot is three neighbours, their lives and how they interact with one another over time exploring subjects such as loneliness, human connection, social class and differing personalities. Highs and lows of love, friendship and how that develops, changing from a slow, controlled pace to a catastrophic climax. It's a comedy full of tragedy.
Oh, and did I mention, it is all done in mime?
The set is spectacular, complete small flats, all with a super different feel. A roof above them, toilet to the side, all used to great effect. It's a vast show that has nothing there just because, everything is used and used well.
The creative mind behind 'Fishbowl' is, and I've already used the word, genius. A genuinely brilliant concept executed with precision and talent.
Theatre has been stagnant of fresh ideas, but if people look hard enough, shows are out there. Sometimes found when taking a chance on something new. So I erge you, check out this show, be it now, or in the future.
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| Photo by Fabienne Rappeneau |
The masterclass of this difficult piece is made to look easy by Pierre, Agatha and Olivier. Each characterisation is spot on, full of energy, wonder and superb chemistry.
Their ability to storytell is incredible, especially without words. How someone can say so much without saying anything at all is hard to comprehend. The scene where the tragedy takes hold are heartfelt and real. Just brilliant.
The lighting and sound team are equally part of this show, needing to be right on queue with everything, as are the stage hands. Be it moving an item of clothing as it flies off, the sound effect of listening to music and then not, dancing, toilet noises....they go on.
Costumes are also telling us the story of each person. From tatty, to precise, to clean. Nothing is chance, it's all thoroughly considered and if it's important, if it's funny, if it's pathos, it's in. A perfectly crafted show
I truly hope 'Fishbowl' enjoys a well-deserved lengthy run, as well as a return for 'Ice Hole' in the near future. I had a truly brilliant time re-watching this magic.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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| Photo by Fabienne Rappeneau |
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