‘Ten years. Two Friends. One fortune-teller.’
Roxy Dunn (Channel 4’s Babylon, BBC 3’s Top Coppers) and Alys Metcalf (Olivier Award-winning The Play That Goes Wrong) clash comedic egos to tell this time-hopping story exploring whether our lives are predetermined or shaped by our choices. A Five-star sell out from Vaults Festival London and Lyric Hammersmith The Edinburgh Reporter managed to crowbar some pertinent questions between these two towering egos before, like two blobs of fissile plutonium, they clashed together and underwent critical mass melt-down (sort of, anyway).
TER : Your cryptically delicious, pun-laded show title may be up there in the Pantheon of Fringe gold, nay even putting the many years ago – ‘Dada Wouldn’t Buy Me A Bauhaus’ to shame. Are you compensating for always having been the last ones picked at school netball? Is it going to be one of those chin-stroking ‘Fringe plays’ we have to pretend to understand more than enjoy? And can you make your answers as long as these questions or the whole thing is going to look well stupid!?
Roxy/Alys. Ha! We actually have a bit in the play where we reference our punny title. One of the on-going tensions in the show is that Alys’ character wants to bring in mime and word-play at every opportunity and my character is trying desperately to be much more high-brow. This ultimately causes a lot of entertainment – more laughter than chin stroking – I promise.
TER : The central thrust of the play (apart from that dodgy boyfriend) seems to be predicated on Causality, Determinism, Free Will, Fate, possibly pre-destination, even Buddhism. If the latter, you pair have been reincarnated in a tent at suspect Festival. Explain the play as best you can with plenty of spoilers so people can decide if they want to come and see it.
R/A. Think Sliding Doors meets Girls combined with clowning and ‘meta’ theatre references. It’s a real mish-mash of humour and styles so there’s something in it for everyone – female or male, 16 or 60.
TER : You had some cracking reviews when you premiered the show in London so what made you chance your arm up at The Fringe? Is it that gnawing netball rejection again feeding into potential psychosis masked by shallow laughter and swearing on stage to look clever?
R/A. People who saw the show in London kept telling us, ‘This is such an Edinburgh show!’ And we’re just very easily influenced as people. Don’t worry though, we’ve minimised the swearing – we don’t want to come across as too clever.
TER : Assuming you don’t get pilloried and thrown on an early train back to where you came from, are you fishing for a possible TV development deal? You certainly have form there already. We could put in a good word if you want?
R/A. People have said they can see it working well on TV and we’ve got a couple of other ideas we’re working on and going to be pitching, so yes please, spread the word!
TER : Being actors, can you tie-up this interview with some pithy observation that preclude any mention of, or reference to, catharsis or denouement…ah, and the Editors says it has to be in five words or even better, fewer than.
R/A. To all intents and purposes, always defy expectations by exceeding word limits.
TER : Honestly!
In Tents And Purposes
Theatre (new writing, comedy)
Assembly George Square Studios (Venue 17) 13:30 1 hour: Suitability: 14+ (Guideline)Group: Viscera Theatre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22In%20Tents%20and%20Purposes%22
