Review of Futureproof at Dundee Rep

Sep 6 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

EXCITING times are on cue at Dundee Rep. The multi-award winning ensemble has forged a collaboration with Edinburgh’s go-ahead Traverse Theatre, and together they have just completed a highly-acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe with Futureproof – a new play by Lynda Radley.

Now this absorbing tale of life at Riley’s Odditorium is drawing in audiences at Dundee Rep until September 10.

Futureproof is set in the times when Victorian freak shows toured the country. The Rep audience sees what goes on behind the scenes of the once successful Riley’s Odditorium.

It is no longer pulling in the crowds so owner Robert Riley has to invent new ways to attract audiences – to the cost of some of his ‘family’ of freaks – each one carrying their own very human story beneath the fading showbiz pizzazz.

Dominic Hill returns to Dundee Rep for the first time in three years to direct Futureproof, which certainly bears his stamp of creativity and ability to get exceptional performances from his actors.

Even before the house lights do down, there is a silent buzz of activity by the seven-strong cast on Colin Richmond’s intriguing set.

Over the next 90 minutes (no interval) the audience are given time to probe the psyche of each ‘freak’: the armless bearded lady, the hermaphroditic George/Georgina, the mysterious mute Serena, and the vivacious Siamese twins Lillie and Millie, are among Riley’s dysfunctional ‘family’. Some are set to go with the boss as he takes Riley’s Odditorium off on a new direction, while we see others fall by the wayside (although some are not necessarily without hope).

There are superb performances all round – particularly from the twins (Ashley Smith as Lillie and Nicola Roy as Millie) and Robert Paterson as the slimmer-of-the-century Tiny. And there is a successful debut for Natalie Wallace, the Rep’s new graduate Natalie Wallace, as Serena.

Futureproof closes on a note of hope as one of the ‘freaks’ walks off into a brave new world, but sadly there is little hope for a happy future for the rest of Riley’s oddball entourage.

Alison Anderson