Michele Puleio plays a man with a compulsive buying addition from an online retailer. He leads a sad life where his only excitement is that precious time between placing the order and accepting the parcel from the delivery man before realising that he doesn’t want the items anyway.

His girlfriend has left him because of his addiction and he is alone with only the screen and the constant daily recommendations to sustain him.

He plans his revenge and gets a job with the retailer sorting parcels, eventually acquiring a gun by manipulating their systems.

The day comes when he takes the warehouse hostage and the story focus changes and centres on those who have been taken captive. Each detainee has a different story, all equally despairing.

Puleio inhabits each in turn; the manager who gave him the job; a fellow employee; a 54-year-old wimp who offers up his life in sacrifice as it’s the only exciting thing to ever happen to him; the office vamp who comes down from Admin to see what’s going on and tries to seduce the man; a colleague who tempts him to go on a rampage killing everyone in the warehouse and really making his name.

Nine characters in total all played by Puleio with very few props; mostly wigs or glasses. Michele transforms himself physically and facially to embody the character of each in turn successfully.

My favourite is the Vamp.
Michele is a charming performer and overall the show is fun with a lot of light-hearted humour. Sadly, however, the ending lacks punch, a little editing to cut it short at the climax would vastly improve the pace.

An interesting concept. For more information about Blasé please use the link below.

4 stars.

Playing at Prague Fringe
27th May -29th May 2025.

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

https://www.praguefringe.com/