How many instances have you ever walked previous a merchandising machine and chosen to not purchase a drink? Are you conscious of the way it crushes their souls as they wait in expectation of being chosen — solely to be handed over? And have you ever ever imagined what their lives are like trapped inside a glass cage? Well then, you’ve come to the precise place. Quench is a singular absurdist comedy, following the lives of 4 fizzy drinks who’re trapped inside a merchandising machine at a leisure centre. Sparkling (Stephanie Noblet) is the clear chief of the gang. She is…
Rating
Good
A captivating absurdist comedy, the likes of which you’ve by no means skilled earlier than.
How many instances have you ever walked previous a merchandising machine and chosen to not purchase a drink? Are you conscious of the way it crushes their souls as they wait in expectation of being chosen — solely to be handed over? And have you ever ever imagined what their lives are like trapped inside a glass cage? Well then, you’ve come to the precise place.
Quench is a singular absurdist comedy, following the lives of 4 fizzy drinks who’re trapped inside a merchandising machine at a leisure centre. Sparkling (Stephanie Noblet) is the clear chief of the gang. She is joined by bubbly and pleasant Appletania (Hayley Worboys) and sporty however hilariously bored Electrolyte (Millie Thorn, who can be the play’s author). They have bonded over their time spent contained in the merchandising machine. A brand new drink, Fizzy Orange (Grant Leat), arrives with a lot pomp and ceremony, promoting his recyclable can and upsetting the equilibrium.
But time is operating out. They are nearing their expiration dates, as Sparkling mourns the 694 grabs she’s witnessed. Additionally, the leisure centre is closing, which spells out doom for the bottles because the window to fulfil their future narrows even additional.
The bottles line up in expectation every time they spot a possible buyer, solely to deflate in disappointment as they stick with it strolling by. There was a hilarious second when an viewers member walked proper previous the stage with drinks bought from the bar. The seems to be of absolute dejection on the bottles’ faces had been priceless. Credit to the forged for his or her capacity to improvise with a golden second.
The costumes are easy and efficient with single-toned, brightly colored outfits representing every drink. The rows of the merchandising machine are represented by colored tape on the stage, and the product codes are additionally recreated and magnified, so the within of the merchandising machine takes up your entire stage. The actors stay in character as a bottle your entire time, it’s entertaining to look at them rolling as a bottle would. The dialogue is overflowing with puns and absurdities. The viewers appear to genuinely really feel for the bottles and cheered them on when one was lastly chosen.
What lets the play down is the nice escape sequence, as they use props to indicate the viewers a zoomed-out model of occasions. This is clunky, with the actors attempting to puppeteer a bottle, making its escape via a jungle health club of platforms within the merchandising machine. This scene might have been neglected, as it’s the performing and facial expressions that make this play such enjoyable to look at. Each of the characters portrays a definite character that shines via, with real fears and expectations that now we have all skilled in our lives.
Quench is a enjoyable and lighthearted comedy that can depart you smiling. So, the subsequent time you stroll previous a merchandising machine, spare a thought for these lonely souls.
Written by: Millie Thorne
Directed by: Akaash Meeda
Produced by: Maria Klockare-Holland & Millie Thorne
Quench performed as a part of VAULT Festival 2023, and has now accomplished its present run.