@Virtually_Real, Roundhouse Theatre Company – Assembly @ George Street

** (2 stars)

I really wanted to enjoy this play which attempts to merge the modern world of online characters with the complications of real life. Unfortunately, the shifts between the worlds were unnatural and the characters unpleasant. We are meant to feel for the main protagonist Paul, who has returned from fighting in Afghanistan and now suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome. Instead of feeling sympathy for him, I disliked him though as he comes across as unreasonably angry and bitter at the loss of his friend in the war, swearing violently at any characters who do not see his way. I did not feel the subplot of a virtual world worked with the gritty realities of war and suicide and it seemed it was too much for the Roundhouse Theatre Company to take on.

The physical actions used to represent virtual characters were done very well, as anyone who has played video games will understand. From the corny American accents to the light footed bobbing when walking from scene to scene, they looked exactly like any cadet from Call of Duty or any preteen from Sims 3 and it’s used for comic effect. This is not enough to redeem the production, however, as I still did not feel attachment to any of the characters. From Pauls best mate who puts bad behaviour down to ‘banter’ and a self-interested social blogger who loves her expensive lifestyle, none of the characters are very likable.

Suicide is soon on the agenda for Paul who has a hard time with his mental disorder and missing his four year old daughter. The show simply presents the internet as the place for finding out how to go about suicide and seems to skim over it too lightly for my liking. I found it hard to understand what the internet has to do with Paul’s emotional problems and how he is to resolve them. War and suicide as themes are too heavy to blend into a plot about virtual reality, and despite the company’s efforts to mix them, they are unsuccessful and create a production of confused priorities.

The audience was very small for the performance I attended, maybe a sign that word of mouth had not been too positive. The Roundhouse Theatre is brave in tackling burning issues as they do but unfortunately this did not produce a convincing performance.

Assembly @ George Street, running until 30th August, 1.15pm.  Full price £10 concession £8.

Laura Jones