Written, Directed and Produced by Roger Francis, A Chat with Adonai is a must watch show. Acting as both a hilarious piece of theatre and a visual "Consumerism for Dummies", the script is witty, intelligent and hilarious.
The two performers, Jacob Kay (Toby) and Helen Baird (Adonai) are phenomenal in their roles, each bringing their own strengths to the already solid script. Kay's ability for physical comedy and reactions are beautifully balanced with Baird's deadpan humour and positive delivery of depressing facts. The show makes itself instantly relatable and funny by having Toby on hold for a helpline. His increasing existential crisis whilst dealing with minor frustrations and confusion at the questions has the audience in stitches. The royalty free music, initial interactions on this phone call, and the immensely amusing conversation between Adonai and Toby as they verbally wrestle attempting to best one another is vastly entertaining.
The show breaks the fourth wall frequently, letting the audience in on the joke, and transforming the audience into the joke. With fun remarks calling out the writer himself, theatre ticket prices and audience expectations, the show indulges itself and wins the audience over. The audience are receptive and engaged in this phone call, and audible groans could be heard when the call lapses into hold once more. Witty lines and remarks were well appreciated, particularly a memorable pun referencing Shakespeare's Hamlet about Toby.
The main portion of the show however is a chat between Adonai and Toby, following his attempt to kill himself. Adonai begins to explain how important his, and our, continued existence is, delving into a brilliant analogy of a shark as consumerism and the economy. The show manages to keep a light hearted tone throughout yet delivers thought provoking facts, comparisons and acts that will later result in frantic googling and changing one's lifestyle. The show plays on this by interrupting itself mid conversation with "a message from our sponsors", delivered by Baird.
With only chairs, and a rather colourful umbrella hat as the only prop, the show proves that a good script and solid performances are truly at the heart of theatre. An incredibly important, topical and intellectual piece that manages to educate, engage and entertain, the show is a brilliant addition to the Bitesize Festival and theatre. My only issue with the show is that it's over too quickly. A Chat with Adonai is currently playing at the Riverside Studios as part of the Bitesize Festival until the 4th of February. For more information and tickets, you can follow the link here.
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AD | gifted tickets in return for an honest review
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