Black Comedy review โ Peter Shafferโs relentless farce provokes helpless laughter
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 Shafferโs escalating slapstick show A regular complaint against reviewers and awards ceremonies is lack of recognition for the lighting team. But, in Peter Shafferโs 1965 play, the โsparksโ 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 UKโs tiniest stages and then lope and grope around as if they canโt see each other while we can. At Orange Tree theatre, Richmond, London, until 11 July Continue reading...