From the furniture you just know it's a man it's not a messy man it's a more manicured man. As everyone takes their seat you spot the barbells, a fridge. How many women have a fridge in their living room. You remind yourself of your younger days this isn't a flat you lived in. Sod the barbells, you would've loved a fridge though.
Mark strides out onto the stage with girlfriend Martha in tow. He's a smallish man who owns his space. His taller partner Martha seems rather subservient. She takes his coat as they discuss the dinner they've shared at his brother's. She seems apologetic, frustrated and curious at the same time. He comes over as demanding, high maintenance and heading for a dumping. There's a real connection with the audience. There's 50 voyeurs looking on. We've seen how this plays out so many times in our lives. We all have opinions how it should as well. We don't have long to wait.
The play quickly transforms as Mark introduces his new pet, a pig. Not just any pig he quickly finds out, this pig can speak.
What follows is a wonderful show full of laughter, tense violent drama and all with the absurdity of a man with a pet pig.
Caleb and Caitlin bring these characters to life in a beautiful violent way. We the voyeurs in the living room are treated to a Camino of the mind. So many of the speeches are so thought provoking and the quick fire dialogue was hysterical. In between laughter, raised voices, reasoned debate, bacon harvesting and kale salads there's room for contemplation. There's a wonderful cue at the end of each scene that gives you just enough time to consider, WTF or whatever takes your fancy.
The action rolls from scene to scene. The relationship of a pet pig and a master of confusion. The pig can be assertive but also so non threatening. The privilege pigs have over humans is they have no stake in the game. They can play the role of the shrink or just the perfect distraction providing distance from the dramas of life. As the Geordies would say it's a rollercoaster and thoroughly recommended.
As the play concludes, you walk out and wonder was it a dream. Did I just have a dream, a nightmare, fuck I feel good, properly invigorated.
Now that's what the fringe can do.
Hats off to all the props, designers, lighting, director, sound, producers, actors, winter, Techies and the rest. How they transform a space so quickly, own it for an hour and send you home happy is impressive.
