AND THEY CALL HIM MR GLAMOUR

This production is an exercise in futility in more ways than one. As Mr Glamour, Gareth Davies tries desperately to examine the false and fabricated relationship between performer and audience.

But what is an attempt to comment on and deconstruct this strange contract between actor and a group of voyeuristic on-lookers falls short of the mark.

I’m all for experimentation in theatre because through analysis and reordering comes reinvention. But for all of its stream of consciousness rambling this show moves beyond the ridculous to the point of being just plain boring. Seriously if the set wasn’t so interesting and there had been an interval I would have been tempted to have not come back for more which may have been the effect the Black Lung boys were going for.

Putting the audience on the spot, as well as full frontal nudity were all moves to try to push the boundary and challenge the audience in a fresh and interesting way. But sadly instead of feeling fresh and new it came across as lazy, old and hackneyed.

Until Oct 9, Belvoir St Downstairs, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills, $32-42, 9699 3444, belvoir.com.au

BY WHITNEY FITZSIMMONS