Quality Control

This new play from Drew Taylor has apparently been in development for four years. So it seems strange to report that what it badly needs is a bit of further development.

Centring on two extra-marital affairs, conducted concurrently by men named Jack (or are they versions of the same man?), the set is mirrored on either side of the stage as the two relationships – one with a woman, one with a man - spiral out of control.

The action is regularly interrupted by an omniscient talking crayon, obsessed with drawing parallels between packs of crayons and multiculturalism and showing a penchant for torture. Sound rather confusing? That's because it is, and by the end I don't think I was the only one scratching my head.

Taylor (who also directs), seems to have found so many ideas over the course of the lengthy development process that he's struggled to squeeze them all into one cohesive hour. Shame, as there's no shortage of acting talent on show and there is clearly a fertile creative brain behind this.

- by Theo Bosanquet