Pleading Stupidity, created by the Maybe You Like It Theatre Company, is a bizarre but real account of a 2005 bank robbery incident. Whilst certain details are fictionalised and additional dramatic decisions have been made to create this new adaptation, the play still rings true to the original news story. The play, however, takes the title as a rule and this results in an absurd play that tries to be something more.
During their gap year, 19- year old best friends Brad (Robert Merriam) and Chad (Jamie De Villiers) decide to rob the bank due to sheer boredom and a stupid whim. The two boys accost and even injure the two bank tellers, Kelly (Lili Herbert) and Anna (Ellie Jay Cooper) in the process. Desperate to escape and start a new life, Brad and Chad try to flee their crimes before it's too late, whilst Kelly and Anna fight for the right to voice to reclaim their part in the story.
The play has several amusing and laugh out loud moments, but these are far and few between. The show would have made an excellent short sketch, but as an hour long piece, it feels a little underwhelming at times. The theatre company and cast are talented, and the show has a flair for physical comedy and larger than life characters, but are hindered by trying to squeeze in to much in this short play.
The cast do their best with the material, delivering energetic and enthusiastic performances, taking the sheer absurdity of the script and characters in their stride. The four person cast cover a number of roles, continually switching between characters with impressive stamina and variety. The characters themselves are portrayed both as bumbling naive young idiots and amusing caricatures or stereotypes, which whilst amusing to watch, doesn't allow audiences to become invested in the fate of the characters. This results in an amusing play that unfortunately really never engages with the audience.
Merriam as Brad is hilarious, as the gentler of the two boys. Merriam, like the rest of the cast, plays multiple roles yet its his role as a deeply sensitive and talkative police officer that garners the biggest laughs. This is partly helped by the fake mustache that kept falling, which added to the piece. Merriam has a delightful stage presence. De Villiers as Chad is a stronger presence on stage, with a larger character arc. De Villiers is a pleasant and dynamic performer.
Herbert as Kelly is a refreshingly sweet character, choosing to fiercely protect her privacy and remain adaptable. Herbert is wildly talented and this is most evident in her portrayal of an old taxi driver, with an unrecognisable new character performance. Cooper as Anna is the show's standout performer, with a grounded performance that is perfectly balanced between naturalist and absurdist acting. Anna is a rather intriguing and messy character, that Herbert leans into creating a rather complicated character.
The wit of the play is mostly observed in its breaking of the fourth wall, and overall framing narrative. The play's real events are often punctured by the cast bickering about the truth of the events, and how small changes could alter the meaning. With the character's each taking their own creative liberties to adapt the story to best fit them, it leads to witty commentary.
The story jumps a little too frequently to be able to follow it closely, not only reverting between past and present, but multiple varying moments in unspecified time periods. The audience often have to wait a few minutes for the scene to find its feet and gather context and information before relaxing back in to enjoying the show. This is particularly evident in the latter half of the play, when the court trial, book launch, interview and aftermath of the robbery occur in quick succession.
The set design is simple yet effective, with blocks and a tall tower of drawers, doubling into the set. Painted with painstaking detail, each side of the blocks and drawers, helps cement the scene location, which is helpful with the rapid scene transitions.
Pleading Stupidity is a funny but ultimately shallow play that doesn't quite reach the theatrical height of success it is capable of. With a reworking, the show could become a strong piece. It is currently on a UK tour, with Bristol being the next stop on the 15th October.
⭐️⭐️ (2*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Lucy Hayes
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