The foibles of an office world for those in their 20s are starkly exposed in this highly enjoyable production of Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig.
When plump, outsider, Helen (Julia Mayer) meets office stud Tom (Elliot Howard) casually over lunch one day their inherent selves (Helen’s known to her, Tom’s not so much) are attracted. When they start seeing each other, the gossip gods in the office start their war to rid themselves of this intruder into their world of cross cubicle romance and boys on the prowl. First, Jeannie (Renee Gentle) sees another potential catch thwarted through shallowness (his supposedly, not hers) and Carter (Daniel McKinnon) sees no harm in unmercifully humiliating his mate, Tom, in pursuit of a status quo which is as close to nirvana as he can imagine.
This is an excellent production. All four cast members do an excellent job and it splits hairs somewhat to perhaps raise Mayer’s and McKinnon’s performances above the other two. Mayer’s giggly sincerity holds true and McKinnon’s obnoxiousness seems scarily genuine.
Jesse Butler’s direction and stage design (along with Peter Green) are excellent; the stage as well as the cast (except Helen) is in black and white, playing to the nature of the personas and their views.
Excellent fun and nobody of any age who has been in an office environment will miss recognising all the characters.
Kryztoff Rating 4K
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