Review: 4’s a Crowd (Or What Not To Do When Stuck in a Bunker During the Apocalypse), The Hope Theatre
A raucous evening of physical comedy and quick-witted wordplay Rating
Good
“Nuclear war. The end of humanity as we know it. And my limo didn’t even have aircon,” pouts posh Rachel (Lotte Pearl). She’s the second to arrive in the bunker, which is already occupied by the silent, leather-jacketed, sunglasses-wearing Henry (Todd Bell). Enthusiastic scoutmaster Gareth (Max Burton) turns out to be their guide to the facilities, ecstatic about the forthcoming arrival of Dua Lipa and eager to lay down the ground rules on his flipchart. But the next arrival isn’t Dua Lipa – instead, it’s a combative Wotsit-munching woman in a tracksuit (Lucie Cooper).
They’re all here because they’ve paid to escape the nuclear armageddon outside – except for out-of-condition, unemployed England fan Phil (Barnaby Evans), who won his entry in a Lad Bible competition in which he successfully identified 20 footballers from photos of their arses.
Tensions quickly mount, as it becomes clear that due to Gareth’s radio failure there are now five of them in a bunker meant for four. Who should get chucked out? Will they end up using Gareth’s itinerary as toilet paper? And how will Phil manage with just alcohol-free beer?
The big question, though, is whether Rache is really the philanthropic tech entrepreneur she claims to be. “Hold on,” says Phil, “I’ll Google her. What’s the wifi password?” “Wifi? Gareth responds. “There’s been a fucking nuclear explosion.” “That’s a long password,” Phil replies.
The gags are plentiful, the action often frantic, and the enthusiasm and energy of the cast is infectious. Sam Smithson’s meticulous direction uses precise blocking to ensure perfect sight lines, with a particularly well choreographed fight scene forming the highlight of the second half.
Solid, grounded performances by a young cast bring an effervescent quality to a show that’s more hit than miss, even if the plot lines are sometimes stretched to breaking point. This isn’t great drama, and it’s unlikely to make you think more deeply about the human condition. But as raucous evenings of physical comedy and quick-witted wordplay go, it’s fun, brash and often exhausting.
Directed by Sam Smithson
Produced by The Fiascoholics
Written by Max Burton, Tomi Fry and Todd Bell
4’s a Crowd plays at The Hope Theatre, Islington until Saturday 4 October.
