Review Theatre: In the Balance | New End Theatre | US election

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The Review - THEATRE by JOSH LOEB
Published: 20 November 2008

The casting vote?

REVIEW: IN THE BALANCE
New End Theatre

CLEVERLY timed to coincide with Obama’s landslide victory, In the Balance is ostensibly about a US election.
Its real concern, however, is with the predicament of Larry Bloom, an ageing semi-pro crooner and self-styled “Dean Martin of the Florida condominiums”.
It is the near future and voting is compulsory. As the one person who has forgotten to exercise his legal duty, Larry finds himself the recipient of unwelcome attention from the media and the governor of the State of Florida.
After Larry’s forgetfulness catapults him to fame, bitchy reporter Julia and cameraman Ali break into the Bloom house hoping to net a scoop, though it quickly becomes apparent that Ali is more interested in Larry’s daughter than in filming.
The actors, all of whom are well cast, perform impressively. David Burt (Larry) sings and dances his heart out, while Abby Leamon raises the most guffaws as less than demure Brenda.
Misleadingly advertised as a “political farce”, this play is not particularly political. Its message, such as it is, is mostly lost amid the chaos, with the result that it is about as politically charged as an episode of Mr Bean.
While this is unlikely to make you think, it will almost certainly make you laugh.
Don’t go expecting anything edgy or accusative and you will likely have an enjoyable evening.
Until December 14
0870 033 2733

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