TWSS’ Rae Ferner-Rose reviews Red Lentil Playhouse’s new play; a comedy based in a local corner shop, appreciating its detailed characterisation, interesting concept and clever production.
Red Lentil Playhouse’s ‘Would you like a bag?’ was laugh-out-loud funny, warm and engrossing. The show’s premise was that you – the audience – were the shopkeeper of a corner shop populated by a range of local characters (most of whom were Bristol students). The audience sat behind a counter set up, and the drama took place in the fictional shop, scattered with food and cleaning items that would become props in the story. Through the eyes of the shopkeeper, the audience was prompted to ask the question – how much do shopkeepers, seemingly anonymous and peripheral – really know about us?
The characters included; a privileged mummy’s boy; a thirty-year-old van dweller; a failing Italian student; and a girl dressed as a turtle with a paper straw shoved up her nose (you had to be there). Each character felt well-fleshed out and believable, a testament to both the casting and the performances which were so warm, genuine and authentic.
The design of the show was fantastic, taking a very simple premise, the banal everyday corner shop, and creating a wealth of opportunities for humour and drama. The costumes in particular were outstanding which undoubtedly added to the believability of the characters, many of whom I would not blink an eye at walking around the university campus.
The plot itself was fairly simple but totally enthralling. Points even felt slightly Shakespearian, for example, the audience could deduce that three of the characters were engaged in an unfortunate love triangle, that none of them were aware of until they finally appeared together in a scene. These moments were cleverly constructed, hilariously acted and kept the audience on edge in what could otherwise be a fairly menial setting.
The story itself did deal with some difficult topics – including sexual assault and eating disorders. Whilst overall I felt these moments were handled with empathy, love and care, I did find some moments to feel a little overacted which I think took away from the realism of the scenes. However, I applaud both the creative team and the performers for taking on these issues with clear care and attention.
The moments that shone through were undoubtedly those understated, everyday, moments of joyous laughter shared between friends that were as relatable as they were hilarious. At one point one of the characters undertakes a lengthy consultation with her Italian friend about her Duolingo lesson, which, as the two leave the stage – she reveals to be her degree. It was these, stripped-back, simple moments of warmth and intimacy that I feel made the performance.
I got to sit down with the director of the show, Rosa, who explained to me a bit more about how they put the show together. The show was devised through a long process of improvisation – with the creative team, production team and actors working collaboratively to see what worked, working and reworking scenes until they made it into the script. This made perfect sense to me as the conversations for the most part felt so genuine and often seemed like they may have been pulled from real moments in the lives of the cast. The sense of unity and intimacy that that process fostered shone through in the performance.
Rosa also chatted with me about some of the difficulties they faced. Clearly finding a balance between humour and drama – especially in the scenes tackling sensitive topics, was difficult for both Rosa and the cast. Finding the right length and prioritising content to fit into different time frames also proved a challenge – one that will presumably continue to be an issue on the road to Fringe.
The show is hoping to make it to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. You can support their fundraising effort below:
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