Review: Catching Comets, The Wardrobe Theatre – ‘Rip-roaringly funny dig at alpha male action heroes’

The issue with some theatre productions is that the shortcomings of the show are sometimes glossed over by a state-of-the-art set or the sheer reputation of the director.

Here is a production where the physical theatre elements are stripped down to their bare elements, and where there is no room for error.

At the intimate venue of The Wardrobe Theatre, the dynamic Manchester based theatre collective Ransack Theatre cast their unique brand of magic to the delight of the expectant audience.

The one-man show featured the talents of Alistair Michael who slipped into the shoes of Toby and confessed to the audience that he is a part-time time traveller. At night he gazes at the stars and other heavenly bodies in an observatory to make sure that they remain firmly fixed in their orbits.

He expresses his undiminished love for the holy trinity of blockbuster male action heroes: Rambo, James Bond, and John McClane from Die Hard.

But one day everything changes when he spots a comet that seems to be hurtling towards the earth. This could mean a complete annihilation of humanity and planet earth. He frantically gets on the phone to authorities, but nobody seems to take him seriously.

But he asks himself what would happen if he were to assume the saviour mode of an action hero like James Bond, shooting down every obstacle along the way until the mission is accomplished.

Alistair Michael in Catching Comets – photo: Ransack Theatre

Meanwhile, in his personal sphere, a chance encounter at a party makes him fall in love with a girl named Forest Green. She notices the Rambo style bandana around his head. Much to his surprise, she does not poke fun of him.

Can Toby save the planet from the comet that is whizzing through the space? Can he use his ‘action hero’ powers to thwart the hurtling heavenly body?

The box-like set is incorporated with a string on top that seems designed mainly to hoist an inflatable globe and comet above Michael’s head. The slick lighting and soaring incidental music heightens the drama unfolding on the stage.

Michael has a subtle but pointed dig at the blockbuster movie icons who can exert an enormous influence on young and adult males and make them yearn to imitate them.

Photo: Ransack Theatre

After assuming the James Bond persona, Toby storms from room to room and talks in a low-pitched staccato growl. He points his gun on anybody in his way. He turns his head in a robotic motion.

The high-octane energy Michael brings to the set is phenomenal; in his sweat-soaked t-shirt, his simulation of slow-motion chase sequences delights the audience.

Piers Black’s deeply intimate story will no doubt strike a chord with members of the audience who may have grown up idolising invincible characters such as James Bond and Rambo. But the show impacts everyone. Even the schmaltzy theme music is enough to send shivers down the spine.

Catching Comets is a riotously funny theatre spectacle, replete with philosophical musing on what makes someone a hero.

Catching Comets is at The Wardrobe Theatre from March 24-26 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.

Main photo: Ransack Theatre

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