Mercury Fur

Synopsis

A derelict flat in a derelict estate in the East End of London. Two teenage boys smash through the door and start to prepare the flat for some kind of party, their language peppered with a lively chaos of people and events from history. In their version of world events JFK used to be President and married to a blond tart called Marilyn Monroe who he took to Germany where Hitler tried to give it her up the arse so JFK got the hump and dropped a couple of atom bombs turning all the Germans into chinkies... As more characters arrive, this dark and visceral play gets more sinister as we realise the exact nature of the party's main attraction.

Our Review:

Theo Bosanquet - 19 February 2010

3-4 Picton Place, London

Philip Ridley's play caused a storm (and no shortage of walkouts) during its premiere at the Chocolate Factory in 2005, largely due to the involvement of a child actor in scenes alluding to torture and sexual abuse.

Watching this revival by Theatre Delicatessen, staged fittingly in a derelict office block in central London, is therefore rather like watching a repeat of Clockwork Orange - an awareness and expectation of the violence to come inevitably lessens its impact (there were certainly no walkouts this time round).

The play presents a dystopian vision of society brought to its knees by a plague of butterflies, centring on two brothers - paternal Elliot (Matt Granados) and dimwitted Darren (Chris Urch) - who organise 'parties' to satisfy the violent fantasies of wealthy guests.

As it becomes apparent that they and their disparate associates are trapped on the verge of armage...

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Latest User Review

Mike - 24 February 2010:

Can't recomend strongly enough. As far as I'm concerned there is nothing like this on the london stage at the moment. The acting is incredible from such a young cast. And the space fits the play perfectly. This is theatre that stays with you long after you leave....

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