Thursday 9 August 2012

You obviously know what I'm talking about - How It Ended Productions @ Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe


Magazines litter the floor. Papers are neatly stacked in piles. Wonky pictures crawl up the walls.  And three crazy spirits emerge from every crevice.

Welcome to the meticulous world of Winfield Scott Boring. Suffering from OCD and agoraphobia (amongst other fears), Boring is a man who sticks stoically to his daily schedule whilst he "fixes the unfixable".  Trapped in his cramped apartment, he suddenly awakens to a day where everything goes wrong, forcing him to face his fears.  Will he ever escape his living room - and his mind?

In this coming of age story, Boring's sad, lonely life is delivered in comic fashion with real heart.  You obviously... is brimming with cinematic flair, from the Rear Window tinged narrative to the silent film-esque comedy.  Sound design is expertly employed, the play's action timed to perfection with the chromatic piano music and sound effects.  With Eva Sampson's intricate directing, the drama whips along at a frenetic pace as Boring's world slips out of his control.  His comfortable life quickly descends into a psychotic episode as the flat comes to life around him, his inner-fears literally projected onto his surroundings.

Richard Keiss's tender portrayal of Boring is loveable - an almost silent character, his fears are expressed through wonderful physicality.  The three colourful and omniscient narrators - played by Sampson, Helen Booth and Peter Wicks - are the puppeteers of Boring's life, depicting a number of crazy characters with inventive humour.  The script, by Teresa Burns, is well-paced, witty and fuelled by comic metaphors.

Hilarious and poignant in equal measure and performed with inspired flair, You obviously... is a must-see at this year's Fringe.  Mad fun.

4/5

Watch: You Obviously... is performed at the Underbelly until 26th August.