So, what would you do if you were told that an apocalyptic disaster was about to happen and the world you live in was about to end and bring a close to human life as we know it?
Run around screaming? Hit the road in a desperate search for safety? Or arrange a pub quiz? The latter option was the one chosen by Alison Carr for the latest New Vic Production – The Last Quiz Night On Earth.
Following her initial feelings of despair, landlady of The Four Horsemen public house Kathy (Lisa Gorgin) put out the signs advertising the latest quiz night and instructed her quizmaster Rav (Ayan Philip) to produce a quiz to end all quizzes. She was determined to see out the end of the world by being as normal as possible – even keeping the prices of her drinks at the regular price and not being over-generous with the prize money on offer either. After all she had to make a profit just in case the whole thing was an elaborate hoax.
The excellent relationship between landlady – queen of her own kingdom – and quizzer was clear to see but all was about to be shattered as Kathy’s brother Bobby (Sam Redford) – who had been absent from her life for more years than they cared to remember – arrived at the pub.
Bobby had felt stifled by living in the pub and had no wish to continue the role of mine host led by his father. The brother was more than happy to allow the reins to be handed over to Kathy as he went into the wide world to seek fame and fortune – a move that had made the landlady envious of the perceived life style and marriage that a highly successful career had brought to her sibling.
Even more of a surprise was the arrival of Fran (Pria Kalsi) who had been involved in a doomed teenage romance with Rav but has realised that the quizmaster is the only person she has truly loved. Having left her boyfriend desperately digging a bunker in the garden, Fran has tracked Rav down and wishes to spend the rest of her life with him – no matter how short that time may be.
As the drama develops, the audience is drawn into thinking about mortality and evaluating their own lives. All will have regrets but how big are they really? Are our perceptions of the success of others correct evaluations? Do we belittle our own wins in life?
We need to feel the love of others and be cocooned in the comfort of normality but we also need to recognise that we have made a contribution to the world and that WE WERE HERE.
There are some really positive points to the drama that will bring a glow of satisfaction to Director Anna Marsland. She brings great performances from her cast with all making fine debuts at the New Vic and each and every one of the actors doing a good job. Designer Peter Butler has produced a set that allows the audience to believe that they are in a real tavern and Sound Designer Russell Ditchfield has done a fantastic job. Appropriate tracks of music have been chosen to depict the momentousness of this particular quiz night but despite the cosiness inside the pub we are made aware of the chaos outside. The radio broadcasts become more despairing and the sound of the gridlocked mayhem outside the doors is allowed to invade the relative peace indoors.
The audience is heavily involved in the action. As well as unwittingly playing the roles of friends, neighbours and customers everyone is invited to take part in the quiz itself. There is even a prize for the winning team – albeit very small as Kathy has a business to run.
This play could have taken an alternative more dramatic turn but the option chosen is to portray characters facing their impending doom with gallows humour. This appears to have been the correct approach as a packed audience lapped up the humour and the thought-provoking questions posed and appeared to be highly entertained.
Fortunately, I was not hit by a meteorite on the way home and woke up safely in my bed this morning but if last night had been my last quiz night on earth, then I would have died a happy man.
The Last Quiz Night On Earth continues until March 1st and has a running time of approximately 2 hours 25 minutes including interval. For ticket information contact 01782 717962 or tickets@newvictheatre.org.uk
