If That’s All There Is – Battersea Arts Centre, London

Written and Directed by Inspector Sands

Reviewer: Alex Millar

The Public Reviews Rating:

This performance rather lives up to the tile of the show and only scratches at the surface of it’s ‘lets look at modern life’ ideas. That said there are more than enough physically dexterous and show stealing moments from all 3 performers to keep you happily on your pew for the full 70 minutes.

Whether it it be Ben Lewis’s micromanaging emotionally befuddled Daniel, Lucinka Eisler’s desperately seeking an emotional connection to her nuptials Frances or Giulia Innocenti’s wonderful double turn as the Therapist to Daniel and Christina the girl seeking work experience with Frances; Inspector Sands is a company with great verve, imagination and ability.

The action starts as soon as you’re finding your seat, with the ‘adorable’ couple sat smiling and waving to the ‘guests’, engaging the audience right way. The stage set up is such that there need only be a lighting change, a projection on the back screen or cushions swapped to transport the audience to another place physically and emotionally. The minimal costume changes are likewise done in front of you which gives this piece a feel of complete exposure; the only secrets are therefore the ones the characters are keeping from each other.

In this regard it felt as though the piece was undecided as to whether it wanted to be absurdest or just a light comedic take on profound issues in modern day life. Although, again, this comment takes nothing away from the performers’ comic ability, the direction was a little unsure. Lewis and Innocenti both had a chance to communicate an almost naturalistic emotional response to the action, where as Eisler found herself almost trapped in the surreal hell of her character, a contrast in action for her might have given the piece a more solid direction.

The confusion starts with its surreal plotting. Is some of what we’re seeing actually happening or just thoughts in the characters heads? For example Daniel is shot during his wedding speech, Frances explodes into the a spot light in fantastic Al Pacino Godfather like melodrama; only for the scene to change and Daniel to be talking about the seating arrangements, Frances grows upset and deliberately spills wine on his shirt in gun shot wound shape. Was the speech all in her head as she tries to find an emotional connection to her fiancee? Or have we travelled back in time to witness the events leading up to the wedding? Does it matter?

All in all there was a great satisfaction in seeing the chaos that was incrementally spread all over the BAC’s Council chamber space, it paid testament to the work and imagination that went in to an enjoyable, physical, theatre piece. After this and there award winning Hysteria, it will interesting to see which direction Inspector Sands takes next.