You Obviously Know What I'm Talking About
The Roundhouse
3rd June 2012

★★★★☆

Frequently touching but ultimately frustrating, Teresa Burns and Eva Sampson's You Obviously Know What I'm Talking About highlights the frustrations of modern life wonderfully, by way of impressive physical theatre and some strong performances.

Protagonist Winfield is a sad sack of a man. Having not left his flat for more than 1000 days, his daily regime is pointlessly regimented and hopelessly depressing, punctuated by spying on neighbours and watching Ray Mears. But when everything starts to go wrong in his ordered existence, he becomes more free than ever before.

While this may sound soul-searchingly tedious, the sharp weapons of Burns' witty and engaging script, crisp and effective physical theatre elements directed by Sampson and the four-hander's strong performers inject life and warmth into the melancholy.

The greek chorus - Helen Booth, Sampson and Peter Wicks, are impish, puck figures representing the three 'talking walls', constantly breaking the fourth, while making up the rest of the characters in Winfield's tiny world. Cheeky and affable, the interplay between the trio contrasts sharply with Richard Keiss' silent, solitary lead. Given just a handful of lines, Keiss portrays a compelling and sympathetic protagonist. His comic timing and delivery are tone-perfect and we really feel for his wellbeing and development.

In between bouts of frenetic dashing, such as a wonderful daydreaming sequence, the play finds poignancy in quieter, more reflective moments. One in particular, proving a watched kettle does in fact boil, takes cues from Samuel Beckett in its nervous, bleak humour and audience baiting.

For the first production in front of an audience, the show was surprisingly polished but for one thing, which brings me back to my opening sentence. There was no ending. None at all. Not a disappointing resolution, simply a lack of a resolution.

The generous side of me would like to think this was deliberate. Time played a large part in the themes of the show. If the intention was to show that there are no resolutions in life, just turning points, then perhaps the "To be continued" could be explained. But if they simply hadn't finished blocking a satisfying ending, it became a genuine issue.

Then again, it is a testament to the play that I did care what happened to Winfield, that I wanted happiness for him, and maybe that's all that matters.

You Obviously Know What I'm Talking About was originally staged in London on 3rd June 2012 as part of the Accidental Festival. The play then ran from 2nd to 26th August 2012 as part of the Edinburgh Fringe.

Nearest tube station: Chalk Farm (Northern)