A dark comedy show about luck, sadness, and delusion, all set in the familiar space of your parents’ basement. The venue itself (which is basically just a curtain) some people might think of as a let-down, however, I think its cramped darkness reflects the basement ‘vibe’ perfectly.
Starting off cheery, Tom, our protagonist, tries to sell us his gambling course. Set up like a TV info advert, it is gradually interrupted more and more throughout the show to give a window into Tom’s true reality – and it’s bleak.
The show switches between three different personas: the tv show host trying to sell us a guide to gambling, reflections of his past and the things leading up to now, and his present self, 30 and living with his parents. The use of costuming here is ingeniously subtle, a simple green poker visor and a black blazer are enough to give the feel that we are at the blackjack table ourselves.
Puppetry is a huge part of showbiz, but I am yet to see someone use it in such a creative way as Tom does. As characters are introduced into the story, so is a new item, a wine bottle, a deodorant can, a pack of cigarettes all with either googly eyes or a pair of glasses. Each representing the characters personalities and lifestyle, this was particularly effective when it came to introducing his ex-business partner (which is a dinosaur).
This is a show full of twists, surprises, and heartbreak. Based on a life story you literally couldn’t write, he presents this show with a healthy disregard of the odds.
Blackjack! (and other ways to get lucky) in Your Parents Basement, 16:00, Pickle Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court, 7- 15 August
