Tom Woffenden and Hamish Clayton’s comedy is back in London to offer plenty of fun, while coming across as a love letter to the London Underground.
Who knew that a comedy set on the confined space of an underground tube train could be so much fun? Yet with Tom Woffenden and Hamish Clayton’s play it offers not only an insight to some of the many different types of people we can encounter on the tube, but also an insight into the history of the underground to make it feel like a loving tribute to this famous transport system.
It is all packaged through the story of two strangers James and Victoria who meet on a Piccadilly line train, heading home after their holidays. One is trying to recover from a recent broken heart, while the other is going through a bid of a quarter life crisis. But along the journey from Heathrow and the multiple stops, they get to know each other as well as meet a range of interesting people – many of whom personality wise will be familiar to those of us who have ever used the tube.
Through a range of techniques such as songs, audience participation and skits this is a comedy that gently pokes fun at aspects of the London Underground (the way in which the advertising is portrayed is extremely well choreographed and funny) that many of us will recognise. Perhaps the way in which the audience participation in which we are asked questions about the underground feels slightly awkward and takes us out of the story somewhat and could perhaps be changed – but the intentions are good.
Directed by Hamish Clayton, there is a lively energy that sweeps the audience into the story effectively, helped by the authentic automated messages as well sounds of the underground that make the audience feel as though they are on the train as well. The sound of trains passing overhead at the Turbine Theatre really make it an immersive experience.
Equally, the way in which each character’s arrival and exit off each station stop is really well choreographed and plays out well, including the swagger of the football fans and the giddiness of the girls on a hen do – there is plenty of variety of characters that we get to meet along the way. It could be argued that some of them are a played slightly too over the top, but that doesn’t diminish the fun to be found in all of the performances from the cast – many of whom of course have to play multiple of roles.
No matter what character the cast were playing it is clear just how enthusiastic they are about each of their characters. Kit Lloyd as the somewhat obnoxious Richard really stood out in the way he delivered the character’s rambling nonsense with utter conviction. Harry Bradley was also a delight in the way he brought a sense of over the top anger to characters such as the train conductor that provided one of the standout moments in the show. But the whole cast really ensured that the audience had a great time through their performances. The relationship between Sam Rees-Baylis’s James and Beth Lilly’s Victoria is charmingly unfolded – the chemistry between them both nicely balanced that make you root for them to help each other in their time of need.
Cockfosters is a delightfully silly way to spend an hour and will certainly have you looking around on the London Underground on your way home to see what personalities you will encounter. It is an endearing watch and there is a lovely little twist at the end that will leave you with a smile on your face. Definitely a show that all Londoners can relate to.
By Emma Clarendon
Cockfosters continues to play at the Turbine Theatre until the 31st August.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐