Review: A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR Blends Standup Comedy, Social Analysis And A Lot Of Vodka

Thursday 21st April 2016, 7:30pm, Blood Moon Theatre

David Geary's A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR is glimpse at the woven tapestry of a couple and the other people that enter a bar. Drawing on the classic opening line for a multitude of jokes, this is a condensed look at the hopeful, tragic, pathetic and humorous side of patrons at a watering hole.

Presented as an condensation of storylines, past, present and future, and classic, sometimes very corny, jokes, Nina Marsh and Chris Yaacoubian share the intertwined lives of a Woman and a Man that find themselves in an unnamed bar that could be anywhere. Initially Marsh is a bartender, chatting at the end of the night with musician Sam Newton, who sits in the corner throughout, providing supporting vocals to the musical interludes and a gentle soundtrack to the stories that unfold. Joined by Yaacoubian, the story of how the Man and Woman are connected starts to unfold along with a range of "A Man Walks Into A Bar" stories of people they have encountered along with a number of the classic jokes as the two play out stand-up routines.

Designers Emily and Isabella Sigglekow have utilized the intimate space of Blood Moon Theatre to create a small but detailed bar complete with high stools, quirky decorations, a coat rack and leather tub chair. This variety allows director Andrew Beban to pull the focus to different areas for different situations. In addition to the use of the space, lighting and sound designer Andrew Masterman employs a variety of different lighting to bring the characters out of the stage and the setting to capture different moments such as the spotlights on a recitation of the 12 step program and bright lights upstage when the two vie for the limelight of an open mic show. Masterman has also added a layer of reality with a rather detailed soundscape of bar noises including murmurs of conversation, cocktails being shaken and phones ringing.

As anyone who has heard someone dithering on in a bar, the truths that the two are sharing are dubious, highlighted by the peppering of a repeated line of doubt and amazement. The line between jokes, the character's imagination and their history blurs as the audience tries to keep up with the condensed storyline and the stories of the people they've encountered. Moments of seeming honesty are cut by overtly comic moments such as the standup comedy routines, milder moments where it is hard to differentiate if they are playing or recounting a memory, and songs written by Andrew Beban, Sarah Smythe and Micky Bumbar, The Serenity Project and arrangements of pop songs, also prepared by Beban.

Marsh and Yaacoubian interact well, presenting a playful chemistry as the bartender and patron, young lovebirds that have met over drinks, squabbling older couple, and performers playing out a comedy club set, amongst other parts of their past. There is a relaxed feel for their interactions which makes the line between improv, banter and scripted work hard to spot, but also making changes not delineated by lighting harder to follow.

Marsh has a sweet singing voice but the works are set low for her register resulting in a quieter production even for the intimate space. Her strength in the top notes indicates that she has the power if the music were adjusted to suit. Newton, who also does a set of his own alternative country/folk music before the show, works well with Marsh's vocals and presents the comic The Drinking Alphabet with clarity.

A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR is an entertaining hour of classic comedy and storylines and worth walking into The World Bar and heading for the Blood Moon Theatre tucked at the rear near the bar.

A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR

Blood Moon Theatre

21 April - 7 May 2016

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