The Crocodile is a witty, surreal satire, performed with brio by the cast of four, and sparkling with one-liners and some great swearing.
As for the swearing, 'What the hot fuck was that about?' was one of many perfectly pitched expletives
Based on Dostoevsky's little-known short story, Tom Basden has wisely updated the forgotten moments of mid-nineteenth century Russia economic theory, and has made targets of contemporary class privilege, actors, newspapers, fame and the ethics of living inside animals... he largely hits all of them.
The audience on either side of a runway stage sit, drenched in red and listening to a soundtrack of snuttering and ominous rumblings, with Welcome To the Zoo playing on a light board. Ivan (Ciarán Owens) and Zack (Simon Bird) bounce through the curtains and we gather rather quickly that Ivan is an over-sensitive actor who is not at all successful; he inveighs against 'cultural cretins' and the 'survival of the bloody blandest'. The two friends are at the zoo to see the crocodile, the new sideshow. Anya, Ivan's ex-, and ex-theatrical partner, but Zack's soon-to-be-fiancée, joins them. Ivan goads the crocodile, and is swallowed. The stand-up piano playing the crocodile is well cast incidentally.
The CrocodileThe ensuing panic sees Marek Larwood appear in the first of his many parts, and is great fun as the money-grabbing attendant. Insisting on full payment, he winces when he's told 'We are not paying for the one inside the crocodile!' Like all good surrealist situations the internal cohesion is maintained throughout. Ivan, of course, has not died. 'Where does he live?' Zack is asked, 'What, before the crocodile?.'
The plots skitters and turns, Ivan becoming a cause celebre – The Croc Monsieur – and rather warms to the attention: 'I'm getting a lot out of it artistically.' Zack is disbelieving, and wants to take Anya for their pre-arranged meal so he can pop the question: 'I've booked the restaurant now Anya. It's by the fireplace ... in a good way.' Anya, post-acting, has taken up making cushions, and some are almost square; 'I thought they were modern' says Zack, gallantly. Ivan's reptilian success has stirred something in her, and she rejects the perfectly staged proposal. Larwood, as the overhearing waiter enjoys himself immensely, wringing laughs out of Zack's humiliation.
The staging is imaginative throughout. There are a couple of moments where tension leaks away, a scene or two having to work harder than the rest, but the cast, including Emma Sidi as the guileless, frustrated Anya pull you through. As for the swearing, 'What the hot fuck was that about?' was one of many perfectly pitched expletives. Great show.
The Crocodile played Festival Square from 14-18 July.
