dinner.txt

http://www.nightnews.net/fringe2008.htm#dinner

Dinner - Cambridge University Players & Alcock Players
venue :: C
see links :: http://www.dinneratthefringe.com/
http://www.cambridgeuniversityplayers.com
http://www.camdram.net/shows/08/dinner_2
category :: Theatre
Reviewed date :: 24 08 08

Review: Not many shows come with a warning stating, 'the play 
contains live lobsters and is unsuitable for young children.' 
'Dinner' by dramatist Moira Buffini may also be said not to be
suitable for young players, as the very long winded scene setting
is probably best delivered by an older, more mature cast. This 
would do more justice to the dry humour and cynicism of years 
that the dialogue of this play richly deserves. Nevertheless 
Sherill Turner does a very good job on the protagonist 'Paige' 
who has assembled a remarkable dinner to celebrate her husband's
book launch. She has also invited a rather mismatched collection
of social misfits from their collective pasts for her finest hour,
a personal psychodrama set around a 'dinner party from hell.' 
'Dinner' is intended as a comic thriller though in the end it 
becomes more of a tragi-comedy. Before we get to the denouement
we have to endure several bizarre courses, each containing some
excruciating moments where the laughs are largely based around 
middle class put downs, snobbery and notions of class. Of the 
other players, Laura Bates as 'Sian' has less to do with the joint
histories of the other invitees and emerges with some sympathetic 
qualities as indeed do the lobsters, though I only noticed one of 
the last still twitching. In a play in which 'Paige' sets up her 
largely morally unattractive guests for selective humiliation, 
embarrassment and games of 'scruples,' the scene with the live 
lobsters is probably the most memorable for its visibly visceral
audience reaction. As massive quantities of champagne are quaffed
onstage throughout the dinner, 'Paige' becomes noticeably tipsy.
Towards the end the mysterious butler (who has been hired by 
'Paige' specially for the occasion) shows himself to be quite 
good with a stiletto, when things become rather fraught and he
has to hold it to 'Lars' neck. Unbelievably things deteriorate
further from that point, moments after this scene and with the
butlers help, 'Paige' engineers her own dramatic, sharp exit! 
In its favour, the audience reaction throughout this production
was very positive and 'Dinner' becomes a tragi-comic thriller 
with some very good lines. Though the quality of the acting was
uneven, Sherill Turner largely carried the play to its final 
climactic, overkill moment, with some skill. The production values
were generally high and the use of live lobsters interesting. 
Judging from the chitchat amongst the audience as we were all 
leaving, the dark ending was a genuine surprise to most!
4 silver bats

by John C Vassallo