Play: Pig Girl

It's ages since I went to a play at the Finborough Theatre - despite it being the closest to me, and the only one within walking distance; well, other things just keep coming up. So I generally look favourably on productions there - and Pig Girl sounded ok. Controversial, hard-hitting.. yep, I can handle that. I decided I'd better book, given the small size of the venue.

I couldn't remember how long it takes to walk there from home, but Google Maps told me about 10 minutes. And they were right - thankfully, because I forgot to wear a scarf. I set off in good time, but still deliciously later than I'd have had to for any other theatre. And for once, I made it 10 minutes before the start. I couldn't remember where the box office was - I never do, and it's not obvious - so I walked over to the bar, where the barman pointed me back towards the door, where the box office was tucked away in a corner. Exactly where it'd been before. They really need a sign though - it's impossible to see when you come in.

I hardly ever buy a programme, and I didn't tonight. But she told me the house was open and I could go straight up if I wanted - it's above the bar. She also said I could take up a drink, if it was in a plastic container - and I nearly got a glass of wine, but then remembered I had very little cash on me, so I didn't bother, and made my way up the steep stairs instead. Sure enough, when I got far enough, there was an usher, who warned me to turn off my phone, and reminded me that there are supposed to be five to a bench. And in I went.

This is a very, very small theatre. So you have to cross the stage to get to or from the seats. As mentioned, seating is on upholstered benches that are comfortable enough, and is unassigned - although you're supposed to have five to a bench. Now, by that reckoning, it wasn't full tonight - but frankly, you really can't fit more than four comfortably. So it was comfortably full - three or four to a bench.

The play - receiving its European premiere - is based on the true story of a serial killer who had a pig farm outside of Vancouver. Jeez, reading the details, this is beginning to sound familiar - I spent some months in Vancouver in 2004, which is when they were putting together the case against this guy, and I'm sure I heard something about it in the news at the time. Well, here it is in the flesh, so to speak - a fictional victim's story, her and the killer in the middle of the stage, in low light - her sister on one side, having ongoing conversations with the cop, on the other side, brightly lit.

Now, the kidnapped female character's title is "dying woman", so you know what the outcome is. The story - from the "outside" characters' point of view - spans nine years, as they first hunt for the missing woman, then for her remains. It doesn't take so long for the story in the middle to run its course. But for the 75 or so minutes (no interval) that this play runs, the stories run concurrently.

It's visceral. The meat hook in the middle is reminiscent of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and indeed that's a good yardstick as to whether you can handle this. If you can handle the film, you can handle the play. If not.. well, it's a good job that an usher sat through the performance with us, for the sake of the woman who needed to leave before the end. You see, as I said, you have to cross the stage to do so, and the actor obligingly stepped out of her way - without someone to lead you out, you would probably feel awkward about leaving. And if you need to leave this play.. you really need to leave. It doesn't get easier. They do use that meat hook, by the way - the clue is in the metal loop on the back of the victim's hoodie. Ouch..!

The acting is superb. From all four actors. And it's moving. Reviews have questioned the need to focus on these events, with no new information - what's the point, they ask, apart from torture porn? Well, but what's the point of a play? From my perspective, I want it to move me - I don't care how. This play did - to sympathy, to horror. I thought it was extremely good - but I'm only going to recommend it to people capable of watching the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Otherwise, you are going to have trouble. Runs Sundays and Mondays, as I recall, for the rest of the month and into the next - the website seems to be down again!

For tomorrow.. well, it's about time I got back to the pictures, dontcha think? So, barring any last-minute developments, that's the plan. And going through the IMDB ratings, I've excluded a couple of OTT Indian films, and also Whiplash - the story of a drum student and his sadistic teacher. I've seen the trailer - it looks disturbing. Which brings me to Birdman. Multi-award-nominated, it stars Michael Keaton as an actor trying to recreate his glory days. Also stars Edward Norton. Now, someone from work saw it and wasn't impressed - but I'm willing to give it a shot. And as it's not showing at a convenient time in my nearest cinema, I get to go see it in the nearest Cineworld - which means I get to use one of the Tesco Cineworld vouchers I bought, which expire at the end of the month. Also, as that's still within walking distance, I get to not use public transport two days in a row! Excellent savings..