LAUGHING WILD
DIRECTOR: Steven Stead
CAST: Darren King and Lisa Bobbert
VENUE: Seabrooke’s Theatre
UNTIL: Sunday
RATING: ***
A VERY different theatre offering is on at Seabrooke’s Theatre, with the revival of Christopher Durang’s Laughing Wild.
Starring Darren King and Lisa Bobbert – who received awards for their performances in this show 10 years ago when it first staged – the production looks at the notion of finding meaning in life.
Through two monologues the audience is guided through a series of contemplations on existence.
One, a woman and also a mental patient, is trying to coexist as best she can in what she sees as a crazy world of hustle and bustle and annoying, happy people. The other, a man, is highly strung and trying to find a sense of peace in positive thinking and New Age philosophy.
The duo cross paths by chance in a supermarket when a can of tuna fish becomes part of their deliberations on existence and coexistence, and a dream that reveals some commonality in their vast differences.
Durang’s writing, through these two characters, is an eye-opener on life and how we go about our daily routines absorbed in our own existence, and not realising how we affect those around us, even absolute strangers.
King and Bobbert both get into the skin of their characters, exposing their humanity, even in what seems to be their lunacy. The comedy aspect is important, and again, they both deliver.
There are moments in the play that could come across as it scoffing at religion, but I don’t think that was the writer’s intention. It’s best to see the play through the lives of the characters, who are questioning matters of existence and meaning in life.
That said, the content and style of the play are quite niche. This would probably be one for the thinkers and contemplators out there, or if you are willing to try something different.
• Laughing Wild stages at DHS’s Seabrooke’s Theatre in Musgrave until October 12. Performances are at 7.30pm Tuesday to Saturday and 3pm on Sunday. Tickets are R100 through Web Tickets at www.webtickets.co.za (Enquiries: 086 122 5598).