Angle of Incidence

Review by Sara D'Arcy | 16 Aug 2009

Finlay Gall's Angle of Incidence is a disturbing theatrical performance, which depicts the importance of individual identity.

The protagonist, Latimer, is subject to three years of solitary confinement, which leaves him deeply traumatised and devoid of any sense of self. The play opens with Latimer (Tom Shah) confined within a mirrored box, representing his solitary confinement, while the audience watches his gradual descent into lunacy. The two-way mirrors act as not only props, but also offer optical illusions that represent shifting identities and the loss of time.

The performance is technically impressive with effective lighting, robotic voiceovers, and well-timed backing music. However, what ultimately lets down this production is its pace. The slow tempo and, on occasions, lack of content lead to scenes becoming tedious, inhibiting the show from being a gripping performance.