Review: FISH BOWL at Peacock Theatre

So to FISH BOWL or more properly Compagnie le Fils du Grand Réseau and their anarchic three hander in which, between paper-thin walls, three neighbours exist — but not always in harmony. We have a skinny accident prone hammock-sleeping hoarder, who is sandwiched between a minimalist gadget-geek who loves a spot of karaoke when he’s not cleaning, and a gal who's willing to try her hand at multitudinous careers, often using her neighbours as guinea pigs. As she takes on the role of chiropractor, hair-stylist, phlebotomist and other, distinctly beyond-her-capacity occupational paths, she embroils her neighbours in the ensuing chaos and mayhem, all the while assessing whether either or both might prove a suitable lover and maybe future partner.

While the three look for love and companionship, there are misadventures with rabbits, rubbish chutes, nudity, electrical fittings, thunder storms, underwear, helicopters, water pipes, a packet of biscuits, not one but two malfunctioning toilets, a miraculous goldfish, and just about any prop which could become a source of amusement through confusion or misappropriation. In short, nothing is off-limits and frankly, all of it is cleverly presented, timed to perfection and inherently funny in that sort of slap-stick way in which Jacques Tati would deliver the misadventures of Monsieur Hulot.

Absurdist nonsense is a largely underestimated art form, but one which is it incredibly difficult to present well. Whilst it doesn’t appeal to everyone, when it comes to delivering it on stage, in front of a live audience, there is no doubting the physical effort required, the skill needed with timing (not least with black-out concealed entrances and exits), and the prop-laden dangers inherent in the farcical elements. The sheer chutzpah required of the performers and the crew in delivering such a sequence of danger-laden scenes, is breathtaking and very few manage to pull it off as well as the team behind FISH BOWL.

The show plays a very limited run at the Peacock Theatre on Portugal Street, just off Holborn. So, if you are in need of an evening of pure and unadulterated “daft” then Pierre Guillois’ production co-written with Agathe L’Huillier and Olivier Martin-Salvan will assuredly put a smile on your face, but be quick, the show plays only until Saturday.