The Curious Incident of the Frog in My Sightline

By Amy Stow

The Curious Incident of the Frog in My Sightline is a new, absurdist show written and directed by Le Lacheur, brought to the fringe by Fast Parson Theatre. In this production, a highly surreal world is created in which Otkas, played by a plummy, perplexed Rob Taylor-Hastings, wakes up to find he has a severe case of amnesia, and is now trapped in a land made entirely of frog. Amidst the sticky floors and constant ribbiting, he meets Posil, similarly perturbed (albeit excited) by the prospect of this froggy existence.

Bespectacled, welly-donning and frog-obsessed, Posil attempts to bestow facts and jokes about frogs onto the unwitting Otkas, and does little to help them escape, despite being able to mysteriously disappear himself on demand. Le Lacheur plays Posil with ease and charm, radiating affability and handling the verbose dialogue well. His turn as the German professor was also similarly impressive, demonstrating a naturalism that makes the absurdity of this play all the more pointed.

However, I wasn’t wholly convinced by the relationship between Posil and Otkas, who bicker constantly despite needing one another to keep themselves sane in this weirdly amphibian world. Moreover, there are elements of physical comedy and melodrama that seem a little more for effect than providing a means to convey truth, rendering them a little transparent and tiresome. The most riveting moments include the discussions surrounding Posil’s long lost love, with Otkas’ heartfelt protestation that regret is far worse than risking rejection.

Part Waiting for Godot, part The Truman Show, The Curious Incident of the Frog in my Sightline humorously ponders what is real and what is imaginary. With a little more fleshing out and fine-tuning, could become very powerful indeed.

★★★

The Curious Incident of the Frog in My Sightline (@TheFastParson)

Zoo Southside

11:50 (40 mins)

Until August 25th

@PostScriptJour

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