Food For Thought @ TheSpace Venue 45

Food For Thought is the absurdist comedy-dining experience served up by the delicious performance art collective, Figs in Wigs. Plenty of eye-rolling food puns throughout are interspersed with some pelvic thrusting and the odd popular culture reference.

Our host for the evening, ‘The Artist Formally Known as Mince’, kindly introduces us to a gaudy cast of knock-off celebrities - noteworthy names include, ‘Madonna Kebab,’ ‘Prawn Connery’ and ‘Celine Dijon’ - who immediately leap into formation for a ‘thriller’-esque opening dance number. These charming routines are the lifeblood of the show, where the synergistic working relationship of the cast shines. An infectious, dark take on Haddaway’s What is Love is enthralling, and the irony continues as the show peaks on a hilarious rendition of Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart. These high-action situations use all angles of the performance space well and it is clear the group have honed their attention to timing and detail.

However, the off-the-wall humour is skin-deep, has a tendency to be predictable and becomes tedious at points. Some questionable moments, such as the literal interpretation of 50 Shades of Grey, seem like an obvious grasp at a popular culture reference as a cheap crowd-pleaser. Although, the group do have an appreciation for comedic subtleties - a facial expression, the snide look, an awkward silence - and it’s these delightfully sharp-witted moments that really polish the show.

Regardless of how much is actually about food, Figs in Wigs are thoroughly entertaining, providing a hearty meal that the audience keenly devoured. [Tom Joyes]