Camden People’s Theatre
8th May 2013
The Uncanny Valley is the third production to arrive on the theatrical scene from the dynamic trio Superbolt Theatre and once again this international ensemble has created something very special indeed. Telling the unlikely love story between man and machine, this little gem of a production is unashamedly fun, deeply intelligent and genuinely moving, characteristics that are now synonymous with Superbolt Theatre.
The Uncanny Valley is an unconventional love story, about the ordinary Wilson Gray, whose life is turned up-side-down when he inherits his Uncle’s recent invention, a female robot named Phoebe. The connection they have transforms the young Wilson’s life in ways he couldn’t have imagined, from becoming the nations much loved weatherman to finding true happiness. Although a seemingly surreal tale, this love story is played out with such beautiful simplicity that the sentiment is sincere, herein lies the company’s biggest strength; they have the ability to capture the innocence and simple enjoyment of storytelling and indulge in it.
Wilson, played by Frode Gjerløw although is a highly comical and at times ridiculous character is fundamentally a very lovable and endearing one, not an easy balance to achieve by any performer but Gjerløw does with ease. Moments of tenderness such as Wilson singing a love song to Phoebe (Askew) are juxtaposed with moments of great comedy when Wilson introduces Phoebe to crisps and a rapping, over enthused weatherman (Maeder) to name a few. The success of this tale is without question down to the impeccable talent Maria Askew, Frode Gjerløw and Simon Maeder demonstrate for characterisation and the clever stories they continue to tell.
The Uncanny Valley is set in the future yet although technology is the focus, the performance is the complete antithesis of it; the audience are not having a big budget, 3D movie experience but an intimate theatrical exchange. The sound effects are created by the cast, the set is simple and homemade and the special effects include sock puppetry; hence Superbolt Theatre display the power of live theatre in a deliberate reaction against the technological. This is theatre at is most basic and most rich
It is easy to forget that Super Bolt Theatre are a relatively new company; as an ensemble they work together flawlessly and have continued to produce work that is refreshing and exciting. It is also easy to forget that each production is devised, directed and performed by this unassuming but overwhelmingly talented threesome. Superbolt Theatre have without doubt found their own distinctive performance style, that fuses comedy, physicality and slapstick with witty, original stories. They are not yet the complete article but a company that are evolving in exciting new directions with each move they make. This is intelligent theatre but above all theatre at its absolute best.
