It only takes one picture to destroy civilised society. Or so believe Samedi, Castogan and the totalitarian state they work for. A simple picture drawn by an innocent four year old. A picture who Cooper, the kid’s father, has never seen before. The same picture Lilly, the kid’s mother, denies he’s drawn. Or has he?
It is not the who, the what or the when that really matters here. Things might be left unexplained or unresolved in parts, but that is the beauty of The Infant. It makes the audience think. And that can never be a bad thing.
With a simple but effective stage design and some clever use of lighting, Les Enfants Terribles Theatre Company have brought to the Fringe festival an amazing play that verses around the ideas of terrorism, paranoia and war. They have created a perfect balance between horror and dark comedy which very few shows achieve, and are never judgemental about their subject matter, leaving the public to choose their side.
This is mainly achieved thanks to Oliver Lansley beautiful writing, but it also thanks to the stupendous cast that perform Lansley’s words. While both Simon Lee Phillips and Pippa Duffy are competent in their roles, it is Graeme Brookes and Alexander Gilmour who excel in their roles as the interrogators. Their work is astonishingly good, and they keep the audience guessing their character’s real intentions.
The Infant is excellent in every level, and there are not enough words to praise all of its qualities. One can only hope Oliver Lansley gets the recognition he deserves, and he surrounds himself with the same gifted cast for his new plays. Such a combination can never fail.
5/5
Adrian G. Velazquez
