Fri 17 Feb
words: LYNDA NASH
★★★★★
This was the first time I’d seen Mr and Mrs Clark in action – and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I should have expected the unexpected.
Nine – a film noir pastiche – tells the tale of the private dick who is in love with the showgirl who goes off with The Fat Man – but not necessarily in that order. How the story unfolds is up to the audience who are to chalk the scene numbers on a clapper board at the front of the stage. Very soon it becomes clear that there is no fourth wall, the audience are part of the show and once they cotton on to the process they begin to try to manipulate the performance by repeating scenes – with hilarious results.
All characters are played – with swift wig and costume changes – by Mr and Mrs Clark who fill the stage and combine dance and mime against a backdrop of a black and white film reel with noir authentic soundtrack. Nine is innovative, unpredictable, and faultlessly performed. This is physical theatre at its best and I look forward to the Clark duo’s next endeavour.