REVIEW | The Time Machine - A Comedy

Michael Dylan, Dave Hearn, Amy Revelle in The Time Machine. Photo Manuel Harlan

Written by Cathie

Disclaimer: We were invited to watch this performance in return for an honest review

General warnings: Flashing lights, moments of complete darkness, haze, swearing, audience interaction (stalls), prop weapons used on stage

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If you ask an average Joe to quote the iconic Cher, they would probably belt out, ‘if I can turn back time!’ However, Steven Canny and John Nicholson’s ‘adaptation’ of The Time Machine A Comedy does just that. Following the now well-worn and cosy shambolic ‘play within a play’ narrative which is so infamous from Mischief productions, this play aims to ‘laugh in the face of despair’ and tackle larger-than-life themes. This show delightedly takes inspiration from the original heavyweight story yet offers something fresh and interesting.

Michael Dylan, Amy Revelle and Dave Hearn shine as the main members of this trio acting company who decide to put on the Time Machine as Hearn (the great great grandson of H.G Wells) realises ‘it’s all true’. Their chemistry together fairly sparkles with wit and they gleefully portray their character’s egos and vulnerabilities strikingly. Although the pacing is slightly uneven, they all wring out several moments of hilarity and genuine sympathetic pathos. This is achieved in true ‘goes wrong style’ with out of sync lines, missed cues, technical faults and the actors ‘breaking out of character’. These moments are juxtaposed against a giant ticking clock and the exposed wall of the Park Theatre which gives a sense of realism to this struggling trio’s efforts.

The plot cannot be considered satire as it too loosely grasps the points of the original H.G Wells story, but it is an enjoyable experience on stage none the less. The first half focuses on retelling the story of The Time Machine and explaining the variety of time paradoxes it proposes. Some key moments from the story are included and the interval ends on a very sharp note with a character’s facing mortal peril and Hearn doing his best to reverse it with the Time Machine. The plot point of rescuing a character from this danger almost completely consumes act 2. However, there is not much plot unfolding but more pantomimesque shenanigans including live portraiture, using an audience member’s phone and a live date on stage. If you are an anxious soul who struggles with the idea of audience interaction, I would suggest sitting on the second level as the entire stalls all get equally picked on.

If you are a fan of comedic mishaps, outrageous innuendo, Cher tribute songs and hip hop Wilde mashups, I’d suggest that time waits for no one and you’d better run to see this show before the Morlocks get here first!

At Park Theatre until 30 December 2023

★ ★ ★ ★