Black Comedy review – Peter Shaffer’s relentless farce provokes helpless laughter
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Orange Tree theatre, Richmond
A stealing sculptor struggles to keep his visitors in the dark, while they lope and grope with the lights out, in Shaffer’s escalating slapstick show
A regular complaint against reviewers and awards ceremonies is lack of recognition for the lighting team. But, in Peter Shaffer’s 1965 play, the “sparks” are the stars.
Inspired by a lamp gag the writer saw in Chinese theatre, a power cut in a south London flat is staged with blazing brightness representing total darkness and vice versa. When a match is struck, the lights dim; a light switch flicked on triggers instant blackout. This conceit requires the cast alternately to find their way unsighted around one of the UK’s tiniest stages and then lope and grope around as if they can’t see each other while we can.
At Orange Tree theatre, Richmond, London, until 11 July
المصدر: The Guardian — Stage