Brie Keatley
Fitting that a show so out of the ordinary has its opening at the peculiar time of 3pm on a Saturday. Antarctic Endeavours, directed by Peggie Barnes, is an absurdist piece of fourth wall breaking theatre. It is a triumph for the whole team to have created something so perplexing and out of the ordinary for a typical theatre show.
The audience enters a dimly lit, but very hazed, Gryphon stage as the Narrator (Joshua Hughes) wanders the stage seemingly checking everything is in order. The first thing that strikes me is the use of light bars on the floor to create a circular play space, I am intrigued to see how these will be used. The Narrator welcomes a married couple: Suzanne and Tom Denborough (Hellena Faasili and Ethan Cranefield) who are looking to buy a house in Antarctica. The Narrator takes the couple through four potential places to live and I am struck by the gorgeous and intense lighting design of Scott Maxim to differentiate the houses. This is beautifully accompanied by the eerie undertones of Alex Quinn’s sound design. Eventually, the façade falls and the characters are now aware they are indeed in a theatre show and much to their misery, it is being controlled by the sadistically gleeful Narrator. The narrative that follows leans into absurdism too heavily to warrant a plot summary and I wouldn't want to spoil the ludicrous antics for those wanting to see the show.
The commitment to character should be applauded to all the actors but especially to Hughes who is onstage for the entirety of the show and often descends into manic monologues about the role of a narrator in a story. The glee Hughes takes in torturing the Denboroughs is the most memorable part of the piece as far as I am concerned.
That being said, Faasili and Cranefield are equally as capable in their roles as the Denboroughs, I genuinely feel bad for them as they are puppeteered by the Narrator and they sold their tumultuous relationship well through their humorous bickering. Another character is surprisingly added to the piece halfway through, a foppishly dressed Romeo (Lincoln Swinerd) who speaks eloquently in Shakespeare’s English. Swinerd brings a welcome energy to refresh the piece as it begins to get repetitive near the middle. Well done to writers, Alex Quinn and Ava O’Brien for adding this character and leaning fully into the absurd while doing so. I could feel the love and care given to these characters through their direction from Barnes who states in the programme that the piece is about fun and learning and I certainly have fun watching it!
I believe with a bit of fine tuning of the script and quickening of some of the beats that Antarctic Endeavours would have a welcome return outside of the Fringe Festival. It is a fun, absurd, and silly romp out at the theatre and I recommend for anyone who is looking for something a bit different in the last week of Fringe.
Disclaimer: I have worked with Peggie, Lincoln and Scott through my production company. I have attempted to remain objective in my review but please feel free to leave a comment below if you feel otherwise, or email [email protected]