Michael Cox reviews 'a fun night out'.
In its 100-minute running time, acclaimed performer Geoff Sobelle will take the audience on a sensory journey in FOOD—charting the use of food from the dawn of humanity for evolutionary purposes all the way to the modern era, where food is a matter of class and ecological destruction. Audience participation is employed, though most of it is very gentle. There is also moments of absurdity and impressive staging tricks.
The production is very clever, with props (some edible) demonstrating the glories, absurdities and horrors that come with humanity’s need to eat. Those familiar with Sobelle’s work will catch on to some of the tricks and slight-of-hand before others in the audience, and there are indeed a few effects that are delightful.
Perhaps FOOD’s biggest flaw comes with anyone knowing the high quality of Sobelle’s previous work. There is nothing wrong with the production—it is in fact very well done with many entertaining and thought-provoking moments. There are also some fun staging choices that will surely linger long in the minds of audience members. But there isn’t one ‘a-ha!’ moment that many of his previous work contained. It also chooses to pick low lying fruit and doesn’t make any serious original challenges.
Still, FOOD is a fun night out with impressive flourishes. It just feels like it’s missing a few key items from its menu.
FOOD performs at The Studio until August 27, 2023, and is part of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival. Image by Maria Baranova.
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