ONLINE THEATRE REVIEW: Bare E-ssentials V: Far From Home - Encompass Productions, London.

They may be 'far from home' but there is 'a new hope' on the horizon. London-based Encompass Productions have been entertaining audiences globally for the last few months with their online version of their normal stage show, and as this, episode 5 in the series, is the last (at least for now...!), they will shortly be returning to the live theatre format in November at The White Bear pub in London. 

In this hour-long new writing extravaganza, the format of the live shows is kept as much as possible. New pieces or excerpts of longer works are premiered with local professional actors and directors who are then given free rein and left to their own devices. This allows the audience to be able to focus more closely on the writing and the acting than if they had been given a large budget and the play became all about location, costumes and other peripheral (although necessary) paraphenalia. 

Normally there are only 4 plays on offer each time; but because this was the final episode, they spoiled us with 6. After a brief and comedic introduction by Liam Fleming, we were straight in to the first short. - and when I say 'short', in this case I really mean it. Elisabeth Giffin Speckman's "Surburban Buffalo Sighting" takes longer to type her name and title than it did to watch the piece! (not really!!) With much scope for development, this bizarre encounter with a neurotic woman in downtown Indianapolis, caught trespassing and bumping into things.. including us, the unsuspecting 'victim' in her clumsiness - is explained away because she had mistaken a dog for a buffalo.

Following this, and the bizarre didn't end. Here was a Skype interview with a young man wanting the job of a prison officer. The Prison logo on screen looked quite authentic, as did the interviewer, a more mature man of the 'old school' type. I liked the premise of this script by Linda Robinson, but it was too swift to change from "normal" to sinister, and the ending sadly simply didn't cut it for me, finding it most unsatisfying and underwhelming. Having built this premise, a more comedic outcome perhaps would have been for the interviewer to have finished with a behavioural oddity..? (just a thought!)

'Nuns' by Vicky Richards came next, a monologue which, starting by placing the camera in the fridge and having the protagonist talk whilst chewing on a cucumber set the scene delightfully for this rather unconventional 'evocation' of nuns! (and I enjoyed the Hildegard Von Bingen reference!)

'Brothers In Arms' by Warren Paul Glover was perhaps the most ambitious piece of the evening, but also perhaps the least successful. First was the problem with the camera angle, which although I understood the idea (looking down at them in the trenches), their faces were never fully visible, so expressions and nuance were lost. Second, came the costume. Looking more like contemporary thugs (or SAS!) with black clothes, black balaclavas, and both sporting facial hair which would have been forbidden during the period in which the piece was set, the visuals were at odds with the narrative. Two brothers are in the trenches during the first world war and have a family tiff immediately prior to them 'going over the top'. The row seemed insufficent for the outcome and indeed the outcome would not in reality have happened so swiftly - or even at all - as suggested by the piece. 

'A Dave With Destiny' by Ken Pruess was yet another bizarre off-the-wall comedy piece. A psychotic online cookery show host chats online to an alcoholic, drug and sex addict, and they are convinced they know each other. After going through all other real possibilities, they realise that they have both had the same dream and they were a part of each others' dream. Bizarre, surreal, and funny. Again, more could have been made of this and there is certainly room for development, especially with the male character. 

The evening finshed with a piece penned by Mr. Encompass himself, and our host for the evening, Liam Fleming, called, 'Little Prizes'. Starting in semi-comedic vein, the actress challenged us by asking how many last things we remember, and how do we know to remember them if we don't know they are going to be the last time? It started with her delight at collecting small toys from cereal packets. However the monologue moved to a more serious note and talked about last times with loved ones,:broken relationships, illnesses and loss. It's a nice piece but did make the evening end on a rather sobering note.

Just time then for Fleming to bring back the laughter with a comedy sign-off, and a reminder that they will be back in a theatre doing live shows very soon! Sadly, I was unable to find a programme for this show anywhere (there is usually an online version), and so although Fleming announced the performers' names, at the rsik of spelling them incorrectly I have omitted them completely. A fantastic evening celebrating new writing and the energy and determination of this group to keep theatre alive and thriving throughout lockdown has been more than commendable. Bravo Encompass!

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 1/10/20