In Fidelity, Traverse, Review

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Rating (out of 5)
4
Show info
Company
HighTide in association with Traverse Theatre Company
Production
Rob Drummond (writer), Steven Atkinson (director), Ana Inés Jabares-Pita (design), Natasha Chivers (lighting), George Dennis (sound), Jack Henry James (projection)
Rob Drummond (writer), Steven Atkinson (director), Ana Inés Jabares-Pita (design), Natasha Chivers (lighting), George Dennis (sound), Jack Henry James (projection)



Performers
Rob Drummond
Running time
80mins

To cheat or not to cheat? That is the question posed in this latest brain teasing show with the wonderful pun of a title from the highly innovative artist that is Rob Drummond.

What makes a happily married man sign up to an online dating site? Well, in Drummond’s case, it was purely for research for this thoroughly entertaining new show where he has created a kind of Blind Date for the 21st century.

On the state-of-the-art, TV style chat show setting from Ana Inés Jabares-Pita, with flashing electronic screen and seating that looks like a kind of straight mouthed Mae West couch scattered over the stage, Drummond unfolds his scientific examination of what it takes to fall in love and stay in love with the help of the audience.

Through a process of elimination, Drummond, with his relaxed naturalistic approach that looks as if he really is doing the show off the cuff, narrows down a group to one couple who may or may not hit it off in the process of ‘unnatural selection’. Of course every audience is different but the show I saw had the prize of two singletons, who may not have been meant for each other, but brought some hilarious ad hoc dynamics to the stage.

Drummond’s own raw honesty permeates the show and some of the audience were able to match that when his relationship questions were thrown out to them, though clearly it comprised an audience of liars if the statistic that 75% of people have been unfaithful is true, as it was more a couple of saplings that sprung up rather than a forest of hands!

From that, to a long married couple who used salsa as a form of safe sex, Drummond looks at life’s fragility through his scientific questioning done in his trademark engaging style while never forgetting the importance of human warmth (did you know that hugs go straight to the heart?) and the kindness of lying.

Drummond, who trained as a magician for his acclaimed 2012 show Bullet Catch, pulls off his own brand of magic by putting life’s vital elements- love, sex and death - under his bespoke microscope while still managing to entertain. A dazzlingly good show!

In Fidelity transfers to HighTide Festival in Aldeburgh in September.

4 to 28 August times change daily