The White Bear, Kennington – until 5 August 2017. Reviewed by Brian Gordon
The White Bear is an intimate venue with no more than 40 people above this idyllic idol pub in South West, London. Nothing fancy, just seating platforms, great sound and lighting and no stage. The audience can feel and breath the performance. There is nowhere for the performer to hide.
Sheep is the tale of Dexy (Sexy Dexy to a friend) who has struggled with sleep for 20 or maybe 21 nights…! Written by David Cantor whose previous writings have seen family fun in My Family and more adolescent frivolity in 2 Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, this more sartorial production takes the audience in to the dark mind of the insomniac.
Dexys travels through the night see his infatuation for the lady in the red dress developed via his interactions with the overly sexualised Leo and the less than exciting Vic. Is Dexy asleep or could this all be a dream or is there more to this nigh than anyone would expect…
Ciarian Lonsdale’s portrayal of the insomniac Dexy is bolstered by the energetic performance of James Groom as Leo. Ridiculously sexualised and costumed in a more than brave way he spends the evening between being balls deep in social pollen and the articulation of the threat from hybrid polar bear monkeys on 70s DJs released on to the underground at night. Leo develops a penchant for resolving Dexys sleep problems, but not always within Dexys more conservative traits in mind.
It seems Dexy has more problems with sleep than those relating to lavender oil, duck down pillows and dolphin song…Vic has an aversion to frothy layers on a brew, what English man wouldn’t and a desire to get back to his night bus. But only once the board games are done and the Nigerian traffic wardens have fended away the polish builders…Or are the saboteurs…! Is the night to unravel.
Darkly funny this twisted story is delivered as the story beyond all stories with the cast delivering with passion and panache. The writing is deep and yet light in its delivery of a darker message, made humorous by the team of creative and talented artists. David Cantor could not get further from My Family than the inclusion of the discussion point of which Cranky to take to an orgy….But in context, it’s a pretty valid question…!
This production might get lost on a larger stage but the nature and narrative of the story, along with the superb delivery of the cast provide a lighthearted view of the consequences of stealing from Jesus Romero and the ever-present threat of Italian and Spanish Restaurants colluding…