Symphony @ Assembly George Square Gardens

Soho Theatre and nabokov’s musical piece Symphony has a lot going on. It features guitars, a juvenile story about a boy with asthma trying to pass his GSCE PE, more mature tales of love, sex and wee in London, and a lot of bibs. Unfortunately, the elements fail to come together before the show is over, so rather than ending the play just sort of stops.

The first story wouldn’t be out of place in a play for 10-year olds, the second part seems to be tailored more towards young adults (a group of them to your reviewer’s right certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves) but a more mature age group might complain about the loudness of some of the instruments. At times, they completely drown out the actors’ voices.

The four performers play a host of colourful characters, and their uncomplicated, flippant nature gives the show an overall frivolity. Not wanting to leave the audience without a take-home message, however, it is serenaded with the words: “You are not alone.” It seems incongruent with the silliness of most of the show, but maybe it is merely incongruous with a reviewer’s experience. Because we are. Alone.