Metamorpho - Devil in the Detail Roxy Zoo 15 August

Having so much enjoyed and respected Trestle Theatre Company, this new piece by Trestel founder Toby Wilsher was so disappointing it almost hurt. The play has been getting decent reviews, so maybe an off day for the company, or for me? It didn't have the tight choreography and full speed that farce requires and the story felt stretched to fill the 100 minutes. Following a double-dealing landlady and gold-digging daughter, variously preying on their lodgers, pets, postie and neighbourhood dog (who eventually is killed in a sash-window) this mask theatre piece was thought out in detail but lacking in impact. A big, impressive and trick-filled set but laughs were thin from the medium audience. Probably not for the rural circuit because of the size of the set but I would hesitate to recommend it. Charlie, Artery.