Goose @ Assembly George Square Gardens

Amphetamine levels of energy don't overcome this show's inherent problems

Review by Cara McNamara | 09 Aug 2017

Ooft, this was patchy. On the one hand, the whole show was undeniably jinxed with tech issues, and that’s just monstrous sod’s law. On the other hand – my God, there was disparity between the good bits and the bad bits. At some point someone must have told Adam Drake that when in doubt, paddle like fuck and, to his credit, he kept afloat for the whole show. But there comes a time when it just amounts to bashing it out in caps, and mania is not the same as productivity. It’s exhausting to watch.

Drake takes on every possible bit part and every single digression in a slim tale about being jailed with a Klezmer band over Hogmanay. Much hopping, sweating and frenetic havering is to be had, and it’s just way too much effort for what’s pretty gentle humour.

The best bits come when he chills out. Any flashback featuring his girlfriend is lovely. The AV stuff with the audience is innovative and cute. The restaurant scene is genuinely inspired. And any time he’s ad-libbing (and not apologising) is worth ten times as much as the overactivity. There’s just a lot of the enervated stuff to endure inbetween, especially when the tech problems mean the show isn't making much sense. Undoubtedly Goose had bad luck on the day. However, it’s possible that this just brought some issues closer to the surface.


Goose: Amphetawaltz, Assembly George Square Gardens (Piccolo), until 27 Aug, 4.30pm, £11-12.50