Bewilderness at The Oxford Playhouse

I had absolutely no idea what to expect, which was just as well, because any idea I might have had would have been wrong. This production is both completely uncategorisable and very difficult to describe. I'm certainly not going to try to explain what actually happens. For one thing, to do so would take almost as long as the show itself. For another, it could spoil a few surprises for when you actually go and see it, which you must.

Instead, let's try some adjectives. Bewilderness is funny, clever, quick, wise, warm, and so endlessly inventive that one starts to feel concern as to how these people stop their heads fizzing when they're not creating comedy. But back to the beginning. "These people" are, first and foremost, Sean Foley and Hamish McColl, better known as comedy duo The Right Size. They've been together about 12 years and have apparently garnered all manner of awards and plaudits in that time, which now that I've seen them seems quite reasonable (I had never heard of them before). In this production they play two "everymen", Morris and Terry, who must blunder through the Bewilderness, the curious limbo down the back of the sofa.

In this they are very ably assisted by Freddie Jones, as an old chap who's been there since childhood, and by Chris Larner, as its overseer, who also provides the musical fun. Special credit must also go to Alice Power's set design. The built-up sloping stage works splendidly to sustain the sense of altered dimensions, and, being riddled with trapdoors and the like, permits all manner of unusual fun and games. And the invention is not limited to the physical. Much humour is derived from playing with the concepts of theatre, comedy and even performance itself. The audience is addressed, discussed, challenged and involved. There is film, pretend film, special effects/stage magic, great songs and a sharp script, which starts gently and improves throughout by building on what has gone before. It is agreeably silly without being trivial, and at the same time philosophical (a bit) without being pompous. In short, it's a great show. I'm still not going to tell you anything that happens. Go and find out for yourselves.

Ian Threadgill, 21 / 2 / 01