What The Animals Say is the current play being performed at The Finborough Theatre in West Brompton. A Fringe venue known for championing new and thought-provoking work. This production does not fail to deliver.
The play begins as two men are waiting to catch the Stranraer ferry back to Belfast. Jimmy (Matthew Blaney) is trying to read a script and is constantly being interrupted by Eddie (Robbie Martin) and his poor choice in music.
Anyone who has used public transport will undoubtedly understand the frustrations felt by Jimmy as your headspace is invaded by other people’s unwanted noise.
As the two men embark on an awkward conversation, it transpires that they know of each other from school. However, their paths have taken very different routes. Jimmy is a struggling actor and desperately trying to land his latest audition job in a film with Mel Gibson, and Eddie is a successful footballer. Yet despise being Protestant, he has become the captain of Celtic Rangers (Catholic football club) as he wanted to “p off” Alex Fergerson.
The set begins in the ferry terminal waiting area and part way through the story changes into a dressing room beibg used by Eddie. The compact stage area of Finborough Theatre is used to its full potential by designer Alex Marker.
Alison de Burgh’s fight direction is very believable and I foundmyself wincing on a couple of occasions when the bat strikes.
Eleanor Landgrebe’s costumes capture Eddie’s extravagant lifestyle as a professional footballer and expensive leisure wear and closely fitting jeans as opposed to Jimmy’s struggling actor scruffy image where he is lost in his head rather than his outside image.
Director Harry Burton brings together two very different characters with different opinions, despite going to the same school who clash over pretty much everything apart from Father Ted.
For more information about What The Animals Say and future productions at The Finborough Theatre, please use the link below.
Five Stars.
Photo credit Gavin Watson.
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