The Actors Nightmare is a swift 30 minute play being showcased at the Phoneix Artists Club this month as part of the Camden Fringe Festival.
George is an accountant (or so he believes) who is thrust onto the stage at the beginning of a play. He has no idea what play he is in or what any of his lines are supposed to be. He awkwardly and uncomfortably mumbles his way through, reciting pieces of memorable dialogue from famous plays, in the hope that no one will notice he doesn’t know where he is or what he is supposed to be doing.
The Actors Nightmare is a good concept by writer Christopher Durang. An idea of exploring every actors worst nightmare of humiliating themselves on stage in front of an audience. Sadly a concept is all this show is. There is no structure or depth to it and no real story. It felt a bit like watching a drama group do a thirty minute improvisation. At the end of the piece, the audience awkwardly looked around at each other wondering if it was over and whether something else was going to happen. Or what had just happened on stage.
I left confused and bewildered as to what I had just witnessed. And now, almost 24 hours later, I’m still none the wiser!
Reviewed by West End Wilma
The Actors Nightmare is playing at the Phoenix Artists Club on various dates until 24 August 2014. Click here for more information and to book tickets.