Improvement Club | State Theatre Centre | til July 7th | ★ ★ ★
The pursuit of constant improvement is an idea that is not foreign to the modern person in a time of immense social pressure imposed via constant virtual bombardment. Adam, played by Chris Isaacs is struck with the idea of founding a club whose sole purpose is to constantly better its members, the ‘Improvement Club’, as the plays title would suggest. The premise of the show is certainly a relatable one.
However, it soon becomes apparent that Adam is looking for something beyond improving himself. His chronic lack of fulfilment boils down to the simplest of causes; loneliness and a desire to be liked and admired. The play also explores ideas of masculinity and the somewhat toxic way it can manifest itself at times in placing a pressure on men amount to a ‘success’.
Initially I felt pity for Adam and his relatable plight. However, his story is not a new one and it felt as though Adam as a character dominated the show. I found myself wishing that the other characters could have had more of a chance to shine. Gita Bezard, Arielle Gray, Freida Lee and Mararo Wangai delivered stellar performances in their supporting roles. It was a shame that the stories of their characters were not explored more.
Overall, the play was well crafted and delivered some wonderful comedic moments, much to the credit of the actors. The cast was very strong and worked well as a team. Highlights include a moment where a masked figure emerged from the shadows, strangled Adam, exposed his bare stomach and proceeded to lather it in tomato sauce, armed with knife and fork. This particular moment was a personal favourite of my theatre viewing repertoire and well received by the rest of the audience.
Improvement Club is an absurdist comedy that I would recommend for a night of light hearted laughs. For only an hour perhaps, this performance could indeed, greatly improve your rainy Thursday evening.
Improvement Club is at the State Theatre Centre until Saturday 7th July. Tickets and more information available from Perth Theatre Trust.
Ismene Panaretos
Image:- Daniel James Grant
