Review: Down to Chance, EdFringe

On 27 March 1964, Alaska was struck by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake, the most powerful to hit North America and the second largest ever recorded worldwide. It occurred on Good Friday so most people were at home and therefore safer than if they had been out, as radio broadcaster Genie Chance (Ellie Jay Cooper) tells the audience in a thick transatlantic accent.

Reporting for more than 24 continuous hours from the Anchorage Public Safety Building, Chance assisted in recovery and relief efforts; sharing messages from family members who were looking for their loved ones, urging skilled workers to assist rescue operations, and relaying public safety notices. Down to Chance, playing at the Pleasance Courtyard, is based on this extraordinary feat of journalism.

In the true spirit of Fringe, there are many, many hats and props. Cooper and Robert Merriam take on over 20 characters, including a bellowing mayor, an austere general and a talkative radio volunteer. Yet, it seems more than necessary. What could be a tight, fast-paced show instead feels unfocused and staggered due to the repetitive nature of the characters, who aren’t distinct enough.

But the best characters they play are the well-meaning intern named Dom and his equally clueless friend Kathleen. With strict instructions to keep the people of Anchorage listening to the radio, Dom and Kathleen come up with (mostly hopeless) ways to hold their attention. They sing, read poetry, play games that involve placing the microphone on the floor to record objects falling – with people at home guessing what they are. They even attempt charades, despite the fact that listeners can’t actually see their frantic arm waving and gestures. These characters provide light relief from quite sombre moments.

During the earthquake scene, a pivotal moment of the play, Genie is in her car with her son, trying to keep him calm. Yet this is done in pitch black, and the audience doesn’t see any of it, which is disappointing. There must be a more imaginative way to depict it.

Chance deals with an impossible moral decision involving the possibility of an aftershock, and Cooper plays this indecisiveness skilfully. Down to Chance leaves a lasting impression, blending humour with history and strong, if somewhat inconsistent, performances.

Directed by Caleb Barron
Produced by Jamie Simpson
A Maybe You Like It production in co-production with Theatre Royal Plymouth and Pleasance

Down to Chance runs at Pleasance Courtyard until Monday 25 August.