Ron at Riverside Studios Review
Written by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review. All views are our own
The production features the mention of graphic violence, flashing lights, gunshots sounds, murder and cannibalism discussed on stage
In June, thoughts of love are everywhere, in all its many forms. Ron explores one of its most enduring themes: unrequited love. Writer, co-director and performer Ted Walliker quickly reveals that this one-man show offers an evening unlike any other.
Without many spoilers, this show follows the adventures of Tony and Mike, friends since childhood, having a wild night out. This starts with kidnapping a McDonald’s worker who got their order wrong, to clubbing, mafia heists and much more over the course of one evening. This is a marmite show in terms of humour. It is similar in tone to the Cornetto trilogy in terms of humour, although the characters portrayed by Walliker have absolutely no redeeming qualities. Its gratuitous mentions of violence, whether with poetic language or vicious swearing, verge on the ridiculous or grandiose, similar to a Tarantino movie. Once you understand that Tony is experiencing a fantastic, unnoticed love for Mike, the ending is clearly telegraphed throughout.
Walliker is excellent in using a stand up style stage and microphone to portray all of the different characters with convincing microexpressions, changes in voice and movement. He uses the mostly blank staging area to great effect, moving backwards and forward and using lights in a highly creative manner. There is a particular strength in the design of this production, where sinister undertones are unveiled and add subtle weight to the true events of the evening.
The themes of this show are cleverly laid out in an understated form. Ron explores the perils of unrequited love, the struggle for self-acceptance and expression in Queer love, the dangers of obsessive love for another as well as the conflation of violence with masculinity. However, at times it is unclear if this is completely satirical in its mocking of masculinity or upholding it as a delirious ideal in sections. The constant explanation of jokes throughout and why it is funny also seems either extremely dry humour or an overextension of portraying how broken and desperate Tony is for any sort of validation and attention at all.
The show’s running time of one hour works well to fully submerge you into the insanity of Tony’s mind. Although the end twist is obvious once the characters are introduced, the mercurial twists and frankly insane turns of Tony and Mike’s night are disturbing or hilarious or a strange mix of both.
If you enjoy black comedy with a hint of highly descriptive violence and gore, an intriguing one-man show and cornetto-style puns on obsession and unrequited love, then this is the show for you.
Running until 5th July at Riverside Studios
★★
