Skinner’s foray into theatre fizzles
Nina’s got News Pleasance Dome
‘That was very Frank Skinner,” a man said as we trooped out of the unlovelier of the Pleasance’s venues, having seen the comedian’s playwriting debut at the age of 61.
Actually, that’s pretty much the perfect review. If you know Skinner, even cursorily, you’ll know he’s adept at the smart, offhand quip and, especially as a stand-up, can’t resist a spot of smut. Fans of those aspects will find themselves well enough served by this fitfully entertaining yet bemusingly underpowered three-hander. Those hoping for indications of more than the most rudimentary playwriting promise, however, will have to head elsewhere – possibly to one of the two other plays making up Debut, a Bbc-backed initiative to get “creatives” from other fields diving into theatre mode.
The trickiest thing about critiquing Skinner’s novice effort isn’t the potential damage to his fledgling theatrical talent; having ear-wormed his way back into the nation’s affections via replays of Three Lions, someone putting the boot in can’t hurt for long. It’s that the “news” alluded to in the title needs to stay under wraps, or what impact the piece has will be reduced. At the same time, the “revelation” that Nina has summoned her ex-boyfriend Chris and friend Vanessa to her home to impart is the high-minded comedy’s most intriguing aspect – the leap of faith required to take her seriously is a test of their friendship. Nina’s invitation has the effect of raising clueless Chris’s hopes when our suspicion grows that she’s trying to let him down gently.
The most assured dialogue lies in the awkward set-up badinage between Jessica Clark’s cheery, caustic but not-unkind Nina and Rob Auton’s gangly, dweeby Chris, who is obsessively fixated with their past sex lives. Breffni Holahan completes the trio as the openly withering Vanessa.
Given that production company Avalon is also behind this endeavour, it’s not hard to see the potential for Skinner’s breezily candid way with words to be harnessed for sitcom. Yet on stage, the recurrent flipness undermines character development and, instead of building dramatically, it fizzles – not helped by sluggish pacing from director Polina Kalinina that allows more pauses than your average Pinter. Don’t hold the front page.
Until Aug 26. Tickets: 0131 556 6550; pleasance.co.uk