THE WORLD OF WORK | STAGE REVIEW
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Wed 19 Mar
I’m ashamed to say that on seeing difficult|stage’s The World of Work billed as an ‘absurdist’ piece, prejudice reared it’s ugly head. I entered Chapter grimly resigned to an evening of being shouted at by a spotlit nudist spouting something incomprehensible about the inherent hypocrisy of society by means of swearing and interpretive dance.
I stand corrected and humbled. From the moment I entered the auditorium the atmosphere was immensely convivial, developed both through the set depicting the group’s drawing room, and the good-natured banter between the cast and the audience. The entire show, while superficially random in its construction, also had an underlying cohesion which was beautifully crafted, and expertly timed. The script was rigorously efficient, inducing consistent hilarity throughout the entire performance, and was expertly delivered by one of the strongest casts I’ve seen in some time. While each actor portrayed a variety of characters, each was fully developed and effortlessly believable, winning the audience’s immediate affection with the easy charm of the finest stand up comics.
I’m genuinely sorry I can’t say more but, unfortunately, this is one of those shows in which it’s difficult to say what it’s ‘about’. It’s a group of people. They have their relationships, their hopes, their successes, their disappointments, and you as the audience are invited to be part of it. Yes, it’s pretty random. Yes, they drop the C-bomb on occasion, albeit with all the precision and efficacy of a laser-guided missile. And the result is one of the most enjoyable theatrical evenings playing in Cardiff at the moment. Highly recommended.
words JAMES SIDWELL photos DAN GREEN
The World of Work, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. Until Sat 22 Mar. Tickets: £10/12 (Age recommendation: 16+). Info: 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org