I missed out on this wickedly funny show at the Turbine Theatre, so when Cockfosters popped up again, I was keen to go for a ride! It has entered the tunnels at Southwark Playhouse Borough for its latest stop.
The place is a carriage on a Piccadilly Line tube train, starting at Heathrow airport. James (Sam Rees-Baylis, who, as noted in the play, looks disconcertingly like Stephen Mangan) has lost his baggage and seems a little wound-up.
When Tori (Beth Lilly) joins the train, they can both share the pain of loud, leery and loquacious passengers, including an annoying friend, a tipsy hen coterie, and a couple of confused tourists (“you take the Northern line to go south?”).
Tom Woffenden and Hamish Clayton (also producer/director) are the writers behind this slightly off-the-rails trip that begins in the foyer as a cast member with a loudhailer gives out ‘announcements’ and continues with free ‘Retro’ newspaper programmes and ‘mind the gap’ painted on the auditorium steps.
The quick costume changes and character multi-roling of Jimmy Bryant, Liam Horrigan, Natasha Vasandani and Emily Waters brings to life buskers, historical figures from the birth of the Underground, moving ad posters, and a ticket inspector who gained his fair share of sympathy.
Cockfosters may not capture the culture of every stop, but I liked the ‘Tube quiz’ that involved the audience and the ‘London rap’ that saw a face-off between North, South, East and West of the capital.
Gareth Rowntree’s set captures the sense of a tube carriage with its map, ads, seats, and grills. It isn’t an official LU moquette, Tube geeks, but the detail is crafted with care. Rich Longdon’s occasional songs (written with Wolfenden) are fun, while the script is both smart and sweary.
One or two punters took an early exit during the show, but you should Acton the advice of those who tell you this will Russell your Squares and make your Bounds Green.
Now where did I put my coat?
Cockfosters continues at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 17 May: details here.
4 stars.
Image credit: Slow Mojo Collective