German playwright David Gieselmann’s zany and anarchic comedy PIGEONS under Eugene Lynch’s slick and energetic and slick direction is a very entertaining piece of theatre. The curtains rIse to reveal a frenetic and dysfunctional office leading into the Christmas party. It is the type of play that is best to let it wash over you and enjoy the ride.
Robert (Mark Langham), the overwrought owner, is exhausted and just wants to disappear. His wife, Gerlinde (Kath Gordon), wants to move to Liguria to live. Robert wants to hand over the business to Holger (Andrew Lindqvist) but he is totally overwhelmed by work and the junior office tyrant, Heidrun (Kandice Joy), who sees bullying as her hobby! Holger’s wife, Natalie (Lib Campbell) is indifferent to her husband’s work problems, she just wants him to snap up the promotion. Robert’s son, Helmar (Jackson Hurwood) wants to inherit the business but in the short-term plays scrabble with his new Dutch lady friend, Silja (Micaela Ellis) whereas Silja has more lustful interests. Psychiatrist Dr Asendorf (Tel Benjamin) is fast losing track of who he is treating and who he is sleeping with.
David Gieselmann is an Anglophile and this play has echoes of a Shakespearean comedy with widespread confusion and changes in identities, and the farces of Alan Ayckbourn with their themes of relationships and breakdowns.
The soundscape created by Christine Pan is fabulous and wonderfully enhanced by Dominic Lui’s sublime singing. A special mention must go to choreographer and movement director Cassidy McDermott-Smith with her plotting of the complex, and riotous activity of the production.
The technical crew includes costume designer Lily Mateljan, set designer Lochie Odgers, lighting designer Topaz Marlay-Cole, dramaturg Aaron Ronolds, stage manager Atlas Andrews, and construction manager Joshua Abbott.
An entertaining production by the Other Theatre company, THE PIGEONS opened on 11th December and is playing KXT on Broadway until 21st December, 2024.
Production photography by Justin Cueno
