Excellent performances from both actors in this interesting and fast paced study on the fall out from unrestrained ambition and corporate greed. Rating
Good!
So what happens when you join in with the wild and unrestrained behaviour of the ‘big dogs’ (that we used to call ‘fat cats’) of the multi-national corporate finance sector? Nothing good according to Josh Gordon’s script.
Alex (Gordon) and Rachel (Maddie Frutig) are two bright young things determined to get to the top of their chosen field, whatever it takes. Alex is a cocky, self-opinionated ‘Lad’, ready to dismiss and/or bully those he considers his underlings, but does as he is told when dictated to by the big boss. The character reminded me of the 1980s yuppie type trope, with ambition as the driving force rather than materialism. Rachel is a similar character with the added dimension of being a young woman used to being cleverer than anyone else in the room, and probably being underestimated. Neither of them seems to have much going on outside of their jobs, and they end up working together on the same project, recognising each other’s ambition, making a joint decision to further it together.
The energy is apparent from the start with Frutig throwing herself on the stage before launching into a description of her tube journey and how she feels about her fellow passengers. Yes. We’ve all been there. Alex’s description of an office work environment is another humorous monologue with a ring of truth. They both spend a lot of time vocalising their inner thoughts, which is a useful device for getting to know them, but more delineation between their public and private personas at the start would be more effective for highlighting when their hidden ruthlessness comes to the fore.
There is not much of a set to speak of, a trestle table and a plastic chair. This is actually a good choice, as it means there are no distractions that stop you from concentrating on the dialogue, and you do need to concentrate. It is packed full and fast-paced. Perhaps a teeny bit too fast on occasions, with rapid exchanges just overlapping a couple of times. The relentless nature reflects the mindset of the characters, and both performers do an excellent job of keeping up the speed and clarity of diction.
The fast pace is helped along by the physicality of the piece, with a couple of scenes capturing the ‘Feral’ of the title absolutely perfectly. Background music and sound add to the build-up of tension without being intrusive, except when it needs to be (which, sorry, is too much of a spoiler to explain). Gordon and Frutig are obviously talented and work well together, keeping up the relentless intensity.
There is one Americanism that creeps in at the end. It does not detract from the plot, but is noticeable, inaccurate and a bit annoying considering this is supposed to be set in London’s financial district.
Go Feral Like The Big Dogs is an altogether enjoyable study of what can happen when moral and regulatory requirements are overtaken by reckless greed and ambition that highlights personal, corporate and societal consequences.
Written by: Josh Gordon
Directed by: Poppy Sutch
Movement Direction by: Georgia Polly-Taylor
Produced by: Maddie Frutig and Josh Gordon
Go Feral Like The Big Dogs has completed its run at The Union Theatre
