The Crumple Zone
Kings Head Theatre, 24th Nov - 9th Dec
It’s hard to believe that two years have passed since we last had the pleasure of seeing Buddy Thomas’s play The Crumple Zone, when it was being staged at the Clapham Omnibus theatre in 2016. For this 2018 revival Lambco Productions have not only found a new home in The Kings Head Theatre along with a completely new cast, but there have also been a significant number of tweaks to this production that, whilst not exactly making this an entirely new play, certainly mixes things up significantly enough to warrant a fresh new look.
Thankfully none of the wit and chaotic charm of the original version has been lost in the process, all of the changes serving to make this seasonal dark comedy an even more enjoyable romp. Terry, (Lucas Livesy), Alex, (Nick Brittain) and Buck, (Robbie Capaldi) are still negotiating love, infidelity and friendship over a particularly eventful Christmas in their Staten Island apartment, but the script has been trimmed to keep things moving at an even more frenetic pace, and where as Alex had found himself questioning his feelings for his long-term boyfriend Matt in the original production, this revamp has changed Alex’s partner to a long-term girlfriend, Sam (Natasha Edwards), a dynamic that adds a whole new layer of complexity to Alex’s growing feelings for Buck, meaning that this time he not only finds himself questioning his feelings for Sam, but also his sexuality in this increasingly complicated love triangle.
As before Alex’s long suffering flat mate Terry provides a running commentary over the proceedings, his dialogue as deliciously acerbic as I remember it being the first time around, however the character has grown from the clean shaven 'twink' of the original to Livesey’s bearded, slightly more world weary 'otter' who, along with his own one night stand now being transformed into a moustachioed 'muscle-daddy' (Fanos Xenofos), add a dynamic that certainly makes the play feel even more engaging this time around.
Whilst the boyband-looking cast of the original were unquestionably very easy on the eye, slightly maturing a couple of the cast members gives this production a more solid core, and with the addition of a female character we almost find ourselves in ‘Will & Grace’ territory by the time Sam and Terry find themselves the last two standing after an unforgettable night, the witty one-liners matched only by Natasha Edwards undeniable resemblance to Deborah Messing herself.
This element of ‘sitcom’ would have been further enhanced had the production been performed on an end stage as before, although proceedings were little hampered by this ‘thrust stage’ arrangement, albeit a bit more baron in set design. There are some creatively used music cues worth listening out for though that make for a couple of magical moments.
If panto isn’t your thing but you still want a large slice of “ho, ho, ho” this Christmas, then be sure to get yourself a ticket for The Crumple Zone.
★★★★
