The Guardian’s Michael Billington writes a very positive review for Niel LaBute’s Fat Pig play opening in London this week, but then curiously goes on to suggest that the playwright/director should explain to us how America got to be in the state it’s in.

I cannot fault the acting or the deft economy of Labute’s storytelling. But it would an even better play if it told us why America, founded on the notion of independence, has turned into such a tragically conformist republic.

I suppose it might just be worth putting the question, but it reminds me of the way that chat show presenters feel compelled to ask young celebrity pop stars for their opinion on world politics. In general, the role of an artist is often merely to reflect the world as it is, it takes others to explain it. The trouble with Fat Pig is that Neil LaBute’s world is a harsh and unpleasant place which offers no escape or hope for change, let alone a grounded sense of history.

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Review of Fat Pig at Trafalgar Studios

Fat Pig has its opening night next week, right after the Bank Holiday weekend, so the performance I saw last night may not be fully representative of how it will be played from then onwards, with continuous refinement being a necessity.

It’s American

The first thing I hadn’t anticipated from my scant research, what with the cast list boasting “The country’s hottest actor-comedians” is that it’s an American play. So these well known faces from British TV have to act the parts as Americans, with all the cultural nuances, language, gestures, comedy style and spoken accents that entails. I had a really hard time getting used to it, and evidently so did some of the cast. So what’s the point? I spent far too much of my own attention during the first half-hour trying to evaluate how much effort it would take to rewrite the script to set the story in the UK. Are we not well off for British playwrighting talent at present – I don’t know. Or is the money only interested in backing shows that have already proved their earning potential in the states? (Fat Pig played in New York already) But hang on, this is the Trafalgar Studios – a supposed bridge for new productions offering “theatre that is uniquely fresh, stimulating and challenging”.

Fat

Which brings me to the headline topic of this play, the politics of fat. Yikes, if you’re going to use such a provoking title as Fat Pig you’d think there would be something positive to conclude. I was promised “an ultimately touching love story” but can hardly claim to have been left with an uplifting message. Another possible thought excercise is to try rewriting the play with the contentious issue being the reactions dating a black woman rather than a fat one. Now try holding the same implications!

Robert Webb as Tom played a blinder, outshining the other three in my opinion, although Ella Smith as Helen was the more convincing American and played a believable role right up until the final scene. The other three american accents began to deteriorate in the second act, with one magnificent tirade from Joanna Page gaining a round of applause or was it for recognition of the emergence of a familiar Welsh character?

Discussion

The revolving stage worked flawlessly for transporting the plot progression through five very different locations, so that was really well managed in this close-up theatre, and the loud guitar music made me jump at each scene change, but perhaps that was the intention. This is a real live theatre play experience, moving and challenging, that may induce anger as much as laughter, but one thing is for sure – there was plenty to talk about for hours afterwards and anybody who is interested, whether having seen Fat Pig or not over the forthcoming months is invited to discuss the issues, boldly but tactfully, in the comments here on London Theatre Breaks.

P.S. Was it funny? – Not really, but there are moments.

Other Reviews:

Why take on a weighty subject? – Evening Standard

Kris Marshall on Fat Pig and his car acccident – The Times Online

Beauty and the beastly – Neil LaBute’s new comedy deals darkly with a weighty matter – Independent

Review of Fat Pig, Trafalgar Studios – West End Whingers

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Fat Pig at Trafalgar Studios

Fat Pig is the title of a new comedy play at Trafalgar Studios by Neil LaBute and starring at least two great TV comedy actors. Robert Webb from hit comedy duo Mitchell and Webb ( Jeremy from “PEEP SHOW” ) plays the male lead against Ella Smith (Phoebe from ITV’s “Sold”) and then you also get Kris Marshall (Nick Harper from My Family) making that two characters from Sold, and Joanna Page from Gavin and Stacey.

So a bit of a comedy supergroup then, but what about the storyline? Well you can get a clue from the title “Fat pig”, which seems designed to raise worries about the nature of the comedy:

“Helen is a bright, funny, sexy young woman who happens to be plus-sized – and then some – so it’s only so long before the jokes start to fly from Tom’s office buddies.
- A funny, searing and ultimately touching love story.”

I just hope the subject is handled as well as promised, we’re going to see a preview tomorrow night. Yay !

So, reviews to come later then.

PS. Kris Marshall ( well known from currents BT ads on TV) received head injuries in a serious car accident last month and decided to go ahead with the show anyway which is a sign of great courage and dedication, or something!

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