Review: A Thousand Times Smaller, The Hen and Chickens Theatre

It’s totally normal to be in complete denial about what happened a year ago. It’s totally normal to go on as if nothing had actually happened. It’s normal. It’s fine. He ‘s fine.  Louis Hill’s A Thousand Times Smaller shows a day in the life of a guy who is absolutely fine… right? 

There is something painfully sympathetic in the state of inertia and denial in which we meet the protagonist. The show deals with themes of loneliness and betrayal, with a crumbling sense of self and identity, and it does so with a lot of nuance and respect. While the audience is encouraged to root for the nameless main character, he’s not presented as either perfect or completely in control. In fact, his denial and his pushing of other people away is a flaw that hurts others in the process. He feels truly realised as a character. There is no concrete resolution to the show, but rather an ambiguous finale that hints towards better things. It is a wonderful note to end on as it gives the audience room to hope. 

There is something Fleabag-like in having a narrator/protagonist go through life and past and narration simultaneously. It’s a tricky thing to handle, and even trickier to find the right balance, but Hill manages to do so perfectly. The story is framed by a cheesy noir book narration, establishing and setting the mood for the three acts. The acts themselves feature funny and clever narration, awkward encounters, and the occasional look into the past to give more context to what’s happening in the present. Hill slowly reveals the real situation, the reality of feeling abandoned, betrayed, stuck in a moment, definitely not fine, and what exactly led to that. It all flows smoothly from one moment to the next, building up the story and the tension nicely. 

The set is efficient. A chair to one side of the stage, and a microphone on each side, are all there is to see before the play begins. Leaving the middle of the stage open, this helps create different spaces without having to move around props. The lighting adapts to the space and the mood, although it becomes rather bland during the middle of the play. 

Hill is fantastic as the narrator. He is endearing from the very start, highlighting his character’s nervous and avoidant disposition. However, his performance of the other characters is truly outstanding. He differentiates completely between the narrator and other personas, such as that of the manager, Big Kev, making it easy for the audience to follow the story. 

A Thousand Times Smaller is a small play with a big heart, thriving in the relatability of its subject matter and the smartness of its approach.

Written by Louis Hill
Directed by Christopher Walthorne
Produced by 33 Hours Productions

A Thousand Times Smaller plays at The Hen and Chickens Theatre until Saturday 18 July.