Going Ape! Rolls Science and Religion Together in a Delighfful Muddle
This quirky comedy takes a fresh look at the two great theories on the beginning of life - creationism and evolution - and instead of reworking the usual arguments it rolls them together in a delightful muddle, with a surprising twist at the end.
It doesn't matter if you didn't go to Sunday School or haven't read The Origin of Species because there's a good summary in the programme although, to be fair, some of the explanations are as daft as the play.
The action opens peacefully enough in a pretty woodland where Adam (Delroy Atkinson) and Eve (Jacqui Sanchez) are getting ready for the return of son Cain (Jon Robyns) who's taking a break from eternally wandering the earth, the punishment God imposed on him for bumping off his brother Abel.
But Cain's been to Africa and nothing's going to be the same again. As well as seeing all sorts of new animals like stripy horses and big cats (unnamed because naming the animals is Adam's job and he hasn't been to Africa yet) Cain has also discovered a woman, but no ordinary woman , she's Australopithecus Afarensis, Lucy for short (Gemma Oaten) and this is where things start to get interesting.
Lucy is a fact, no room for religious beliefs here, her remains were discovered in Africa, and she is possibly the earliest example of a humanoid able to walk upright. As the play goes on Lucy evolves from a grunting ape like creature into a very 21st Century young woman.
Not that Adam and Eve are particularly worried about this. They don't really understand it and she's busy cooking apples while Adam is wandering around naming animals. He yells toucan as Lucy tries to explain quantum theory and then runs off to chase something he called koala.
The arrival of their third son, the bongo playing Seth (Adam Pettigrew) and his dancing girlfriend Genevieve (Anabel Kutay) adds a new dimension to the arguments, they're fascinated by Cain's discoveries, even if they don't quite grasp the relevance. And because there's nothing straight forward about any of it, the serious stuff gets mixed up with hilarious girly discussions on cosmetics and sibling rivalry.
Then just as you begin to wonder where it's all going, the plot shoots off in a different, unexpected but somehow logical direction - great fun.
Going Ape! continues at the Dance Attic Studios, Old Fulham Baths, 368 North End Road, this weekend, on Saturday 13 October at 8pm and Sunday 14 October at 7pm.
Tickets cost £15 from the box office in person, or by telephone on 0207 610 2055.
Find out more at Dance Attic Productions.
October 9, 2018
Related links
|
