COMEDY REVIEW: The House

Its true buying or selling a house can be a stressful time for anyone. But the Redmonds and the Fishers take this stress to a different level. A joyous occasion of giving over the keys turns into unbelievable chaos and disaster in this humorous production full of award winning talent. Fast and relatively funny, if one has never experienced this kind of out-and-out farce, The House presents a fairly good example of what it’s all about. Just watch out for the asbestos…

The Redmonds have decided to pack up their beloved family home after many happy years, but it can be hard letting go. Fortunately, they think they have found a perfect couple to trust in caring for their house. The Fishers are a young, high earning couple that aspire to raise the perfect family in their new humble abode. But a celebratory drink for giving over the keys turns swiftly sour as the Fishers begin to discuss the changes they are looking to make to the house. A war of words and so much more follows as both couples fight for their home.

The play’s beginning is energetic with fast-paced dialogue throwing the audience from one awkward conversation to another. Cringe worthy, face scrunching discussions are had in between the breaks of unbearable silence. Margarett Perry’s direction has this beginning portion flowing impeccably with no sign of losing that zing…and then its lost. The dialogue begins to suffer as the action on stage gets more chaotic with asbestos and feathers replacing the quick back and forth wit found in the first quarter. Perhaps a worthy sacrifice in a play designed to descend into utter madness, but one wonders why the two aspects of physical and verbal humour could not have intertwined. While the script dips in energy, the acting does not. Strong performances by all four cast members that get up on stage for just over an hour in this one scene show and hilariously let rip on each other and themselves. A promising beginning that lags towards the end, The House is entertaining enough despite not being consistent in its delivery of the witty humour it starts with. A fine piece of farce.