The Old Joint Stock Birmingham – 21st July 2025
Reviewed by Emma Millward
4****
A bird, a bathroom and four housemates on the brink of madness….
Few things in life can bring a busy home to a screeching halt quite like an unexpected visit from a feathered friend. Following on from its successful ten-minute debut at The Old Joint Stock’s Play/Test Scratch Night, where six new pieces were previewed, There’s a Pigeon In My Bathroom returned as an hour-long work-in-progress piece. The show is produced by Liam Alexandru and Perro Loco Productions and written and directed by Patrick Euan Large (who also performs in the show).
Set in the living room of a flat shared by Ben (Patrick Euan Large), Emma (Abigail Wasdell), Hugo (Max Jordan) and Katie (Edie Murphy). Their lives spiral into chaos as a pigeon suddenly appears in the bathroom. The four friends must work together to figure out how to remove it. Their frantic attempts to evict their unwanted guest trigger a chain reaction of silliness as each character tries to figure out a solution, including a very out-of-date fire extinguisher. Amidst all the craziness, we learn of the secret feelings the characters have for each other.
The chemistry between the actors is apparent from the first scene. Patrick Euan Large as Ben is a calm, level-headed character who tries (and often fails) to keep the ensuing chaos under control. Large plays Ben’s vulnerability well in later scenes. Edie Murphy plays Katie with a deliciously sarcastic edge who delivers some biting lines, but never overplays them. Abigail Wasdall was a delight as the often confused Emma. There was a danger of her drifting into a stereotypical kooky character, but this was avoided. Max Jordan as Hugo storms into scenes like a force of nature, aggressive and impulsive, yet incredibly endearing. Occasionally, he made those of us in the front row jump as he charged back into the scene! Hugo attempts to solve the Pigeon problem with the swagger of someone who has fought off larger animals before (although maybe not with a can of deodorant and a lighter). Underneath the bravado, we discover a softer side, especially when it comes to Katie. Finally, the apparent villain and puppet master of the piece is the pigeon (or Peeve, as he is later christened). He became the fifth member of the ensemble. When we finally see the Pigeon, it is a small toy prop. At first, I thought it should be a bigger prop, but on reflection, this adds to the humour of the show.
The running time of an hour flew by (pun entirely intended). Producer Liam Alexandru paced the action tightly, and it never felt like the time was dragging, even in the quieter moments. Patrick Euan Large’s script is clever, fast-paced, and at times, incredibly moving. It occasionally drifts into sitcom tropes of flatmate misunderstandings and the occasional punchline cliché that doesn’t quite land well. However, the jokes were generally well received. The fact that we never see inside the bathroom works well, as the audience’s imagination is very good at filling in the blanks, which often makes the situation even funnier. A few well-timed sound effects from the unseen bathroom would add to the humour, even the occasional coo of that pesky pigeon! I believe that with a little bit of fine-tuning, this piece would work exceptionally well at fringe festivals and if taken on tour. I look forward to seeing how this show progresses in the future.
Even if you’ve never experienced domestic disturbances of the avian variety, there are moments in the play that we can all identify with and enjoy. It is witty, weird and surprisingly touching. If you get the chance, go and see it, but remember to close all your windows when you leave!