Our next play lured me in with its amazing reviews, as you can see; but I’m still not quite sure what to expect. It’s Misterman, at hill street theatre @ C venues – C primo, at 15:45 on Wednesday 23rd. See the reviews in the blurb: “A Sydney Critics’ multi award-winning tour-de-force performance of Enda Walsh’s riveting masterpiece. Thomas Campbell (Downton Abbey) plays Thomas Magill and the population of an entire town in a solo performance of epic proportions. ‘Misterman is provocative, buzzes with nuclear energy and, thanks to the holy trinity of Walsh, Gaul and Campbell – especially – is compulsory’ (Lloyd Bradford Syke, facebook.com/sykeonstage). ‘This production is perfect in almost every regard… All the elements combine in the tiny theatre to create something unexpectedly moving and overwhelming… A spectacular production with a spectacular performance which shouldn’t be missed’ (Ben Neutze, Daily Review.com.au, Crikey.com.au).”

A solo performance of epic proportions? That’s high praise indeed. Check back around 5.15 pm to see if we agreed. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

I have to confess, I can’t quite agree. Thomas Campbell does give a very good performance but we both found the play to lack variety and depth. Mr Campbell’s voices for all the characters got a little samey, and you end up with the Innisfree equivalent of Phil Spector’s wall of sound. The surprise ending comes as a strong shock, but I rather wish we could have got there a little earlier. The audience enjoyed it, so I am perfectly prepared to say it’s us out of kilter.