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Expect mayhem, expect chaos, expect to find out how long you have left to live. Just don't expect to have a clue what to expectSummary
Rating
Excellent
I’m not sure anything can prepare you for the full-on attack that is American double act Amrita Dhaliwal and Gemma Soldati in their part comedy show part physical clownery. They not only break the fourth wall of theatre; they scale it and then kick it down from the other side. This is a show that demands you participate, after all, it would be very rude of you to not respect the dead.
The Living Room is a place of work, where our seriously unhinged duo count up the days deaths. They do this with the use of way too many telephones and a chalk board, marking off each phone call reporting yet another death. And that is about as much as you really need to know about the plot, it really is that simple.
What isn’t so simple is the pure energy and ability of this pair in taking the audience with them on their day’s work. From the opening moments they are checking out the audience, moving people about, reading out the rules for those wanting to stay in the Living Room. They are also predicting deaths. It’s a show that could go horribly wrong if the audience aren’t taking part, but thankfully even with tonight’s low turnout, they pick their participants well; although if you are going to turn up decked out in bright green, including headband, it’s a safe bet you are game for taking part! With a much bigger audience, this show could really flourish and be even crazier than it already is.
When Dhaliwal and Soldati aren’t predicting our deaths or taking moments to mourn the latest phone call reporting yet another death, they are careering wildly around the small space. It looks chaotic, but there is a skill in making it look so disorganised. The whole process of mixing drinks is just one highlight of their ability to do physical comedy so effortlessly.
The Living Room is a show that is about the performers and not the story it tells. Don’t go along expecting any real depth, other than a consideration on the fact death comes to us all. It’s the perfect end of night show, guaranteed to keep you fully awake for every mad moment of it.
Written by: Amrita Dhaliwal and Gemma Soldati
Produced by: Dhali Dati
Booking link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/living-room
Booking until: 24 August 2019
