Review by Mer Weinhold
45 minutes | Comedy, Drama | PG
The nature of INESCAPABLE makes it difficult to review without spoiling the experience of the show, since much of the enjoyment comes from slowly figuring out what’s going on. Taking a break from a holiday party, the two nameless protagonists are trying to figure out the origins and function of a mysterious device as emotions heighten and secrets are revealed.
Like onions, parfaits, and ogres, INESCAPABLE is composed of layers, with each subsequent one getting closer and closer to the core of the matter. Much of the humour comes from repetition and callback, so audience members who figure out where things are going early on may get impatient with the apparent stagnation of the plot. On the other hand, one may enjoy the anticipation of the reveal. Paying attention to details is rewarded, since a great deal of foreshadowing emerges as the play progresses. (Paying too much attention to detail, as I did, means that one starts laughing an awkwardly long time before they get to a punchline.)
Tightly written and carefully paced, the script contains many very similar stretches of dialogue, making it a challenging show to memorize and perform, and the actors deliver a nearly impeccable performance. With a heavy emphasis on dialogue, the play could have conceivably been a quiet and low-energy conversation, but instead the actors bring physicality to the characters with skilful use of body language and near-constant movement around the small stage.
The set is simple, with only a table and two chairs; the mysterious device is imaginary in this staging. One interesting aspect of the Courtroom is that due to a lack of soundproofing, there is some noise bleeding over from other venues, which works well as background noise from the party happening the next room in this production. Since it’s a smaller venue, line up early if you’re with a group who wants to sit together.
Fans of Martin Dockery’s other works have told me they prefer his solo shows to this one, so possibly going into INESCAPABLE without expectations may improve the experience. Theatre enthusiasts can appreciate the challenge involved in writing, learning, and performing this script, and the rest of us can enjoy a play whose plot spirals instead of arcing, edging closer to the truth each time around while somehow withholding any real closure.
INESCAPABLE by RibbitRePublic and Martin Dockery is playing at BYOV A — The Courtroom (2 Daly Avenue) on Saturday, June 20th at 5:30pm, Sunday, June 21st at 3:30pm and 8:30pm, Monday, June 22nd at 6:30pm, Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:00pm, Wednesday, June 24th at 6:30pm, Thursday, June 25th at 9:30pm, Saturday, June 27th at 7:00pm, and Sunday, June 28th at 4:00pm.
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