Similar to Le Fils du Grand Réseau whose titular prop of a Fishbowl is used as a metaphor for the increasingly isolated nature of modern society as depicted by three singletons who struggle to connect despite the walls of their adjacent apartments being paper-thin, Crowded Outlet’s use of said pet receptacle highlights how our continued obsession with technology has failed to lessen our feelings of loneliness by zooming in on one city dweller who despite repeatedly climbing the social ladders of messaging apps and dating sites, podcasts and social media, always ends up in a snake pit of despair.

The opening soundscape and mime by solo performer Richard Saudek suggests that he and his fellow creators, composer Jesse Novak and artistic director of Crowded Outlet Wes Granton, think that evolution has hit reverse: a cacophony of car horns and sirens subside into the squelch of a swamp as the ashen-faced Mr Lonely emerges from the womb of existence before aping the ascent of man from knuckle-dragging chimp to upstanding citizen – ending, with great comic effect, with the hunched shoulders and outstretched arm of an addict guided by the shining light of a mobile phone.

Traipsing through a labyrinthine network of tube and sidewalk with no regard for man, woman or truck – not to mention audience whose personal space is invaded on more than one humorous occasion in the relentless pursuit of selfies and dates – Mr Lonely has one thing on his mind: to seclude himself in his triple-locked apartment where he can switch off the world and switch on his iPhone, iPad and Mac (other brands are available).

In a delightful sequence using first a finger then a hand which scurries like a crab between the shadows of self-control and the glare of temptation, Saudek (accompanied by foley artist Nora Kaye throughout) nails with exquisite technique and great comic flare the daily struggle which blights our lives from curtain up to lights out. A theme he develops in a variety of equally inventive and accomplished means including taking an extraordinary amount of time to cook an extravagant meal-for-one only to bin it after taking a selfie. Style over substance, unlike Beep Boop which excels in both.

Peter Callaghan
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