I thoroughly enjoyed the performance last night and feel that Jess Thomas' review does not do the production justice. Creative staging, choreography, amazing music and singing all combined to make an enthralling performance. I do agree that it is a very long performance and a little judicious cutting of the second half would have kept the momentum going, as it seemed a little drawn out at times. Highly recommended.
The first half of Acorn Productions’ Odyssey descends quickly into spoof. The script takes some intentionally absurd turns, and the cast play them up with enjoyment and excitement, which a predominately student audience appreciated. However, much humour is unintentional – often a slightly shoddy fight scene, or some fumbled acting, led to unwanted sniggers.
James Corrigan, as Odysseus, stands out by a good distance. He carries most of the show with a good deal of charm, charisma and dexterity, and often single-handedly rescues it from farce. He and the consistently wry and charming Sarah Perry keep the play together at times, and give the only solid performances throughout.
The trouble with playing the entire first half as a comedy, with all the arch, ironic detachment the cast can muster, is that we cease to care about the characters or journey. Deaths come and go, but because of their absurd nature, and the fact that most of the characters came in crudely-drawn two dimensions, it is only when Corrigan calls them to our attention that we care at all.
The second half, without as many laughs to cover the production’s flaws, goes on rather too long. Here the show’s weaker performances, notably from Lucy Fyffe as Penelope, Chris Adams as Telemachus, and Alex Khosla as Poseidon, failed to capture the audience’s interest, although Chloe Orrock and Jared Fortune both acquitted themselves well.
Fight sequences are well-choreographed but not slick enough, while there are some good movement sequences, bringing nice humour with the Sirens, and some pathos towards the end.
The funny first half loses the emotional thread, and Corrigan is left fighting manfully to maintain it. It is a tribute to him that his success at doing so is, if you aren’t a fan of farce, is the best reason to watch.