Robert Boulton, Henry Davis and Louise Hoare in Snowflakes, Park Theatre, April 2023 (c) Jennifer Evans
Robert Boulton’s play Snowflakes takes cancel tradition to the acute. A start-up enterprise metes out ‘justice’ for offences and offending on social media. Live streamed, the ‘defendant’ is given an opportunity to place their case and the viewers votes on whether or not they can stroll or are killed on digicam.
The ‘hitman/hitwoman’ resolve on the fashion of demise. Yes, it’s darkish.
Waking up in a lodge room having spent the evening with a lady that is not his spouse, Tony (Henry Davis) is ambushed and drugged by Marcus (performed by Boulton) and Sarah (Louise Hoare).
The former is an previous hand at this ‘work’ and relishes it. Sarah is on her first job and needs to do the whole lot by the guide, however that appears to incorporate riling Marcus by accusing him of disliking ladies which had me leaping forward of the story.
Setting up the tools whereas discussing the job, their route into it and the professionals and cons turns into relatively a protracted preamble to the precise ‘trial’. It stretches the stress of the primary half a bit of too skinny.
But when Tony is aware, and occasions actually kick off, it’s not essentially the most stress-free watch having occasions unfold in such shut proximity (that is within the Park’s studio theatre).
Having an unseen digital viewers voting on the ‘defendant’s’ destiny is an fascinating thought. Keyboard trolling is taken to the acute; it highlights the convenience with which individuals can separate themselves from the actual impression of their actions if seen by way of a display screen.
And our two assassins perform the viewers’s will; it is a job like a choose handing down the outcomes of a jury trial.
Robert Boulton, Henry Davis and Louise Hoare in Snowflakes, Park Theatre, April 2023 (c) Jennifer Evans
But I’ve questions. Is this a play in regards to the simply offended, because the title suggests or cancel tradition or meting out justice to those that appear to have received away with misdemeanours?
Tony has written a guide referred to as Snowflakes but in addition had a relationship with a lady with the suggestion of sexual assault.
Two very various things, however is the purpose that it does not matter when the mob’s blood is up?
And the sensible facet of my mind could not at all times droop disbelief. If that is all occurring in a lodge room (that conveniently has a CCTV digicam linked to HQ), why is nobody disturbed by the noise?
What in regards to the filming – certainly torturing and murdering folks and stay streaming it will not go unnoticed?
The world outdoors the room stays a bit of too mysterious.
I feel Snowflakes touches on fascinating matters, however I discovered myself extra regularly scuffling with the assemble relatively than the ‘debate’ it appears meant to impress. I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Snowflakes, Park Theatre
Written by Robert Boulton
Directed by Michael Cottrell
Running time: 1 hour 55 minutes, together with an interval.
Booking till 6 May for extra info and tickets, go to the Park Theatre web site
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