This surreal and exceptionally handled stage drama is about taking the first step. Our protagonist Oswald is a writer with a banana fetish, yet he cannot take the first bite due to its phallic shape. The comedy is lean yet the action and dialogue are mesmerising, hooking you in such a way that you can feel the tense rhythms bouncing off the cast. Oswald’s strange alter-ego brings a refreshing foil to the dynamics of the piece, trading speech for deliberate action while the characters are suspended in time.
It’s an ambitious piece, thickly laden with imagery, metaphor and madness. All of the cast are exceptional, especially Oswald, who excels in his uptight, anal role. This surreal comedy does require some patience and concentration. However, the elusive and somewhat obscure payoff is worth the wait. This reviewer could not help but think that the main thread of a playwrights descent into madness, complete with obscure symbolism was reminiscent of the Coen brothers’ Barton Fink.
Finally, through manipulation, madness and a series of surreal scenes, Oswald metaphorically and literally kills his writer’s block in a scene that is both obscure and a well crafted finale. You may not leave the venue completely understanding what you have just seen, but you’ll know it was great and will keep you thinking for at least the rest of the day.
There is too little material of this calibre at the festival, and not enough space here to give Slipping on Skin the praise it deserves. This is an absolute winner. See it now!
5/5
Steven Carey
