Dark Grumblings

Naïve and bumbling Kenny arrives fresh from the job centre to take up a position as a security guard in a set of tower blocks. Higgins, the veteran warden, takes him in, but warns him never to speak of 'Phil'. This is because Phil, like many of the other characters in this hour-long skit, was killed by the evil that lives in the television. Seriously.

Such narrative ridiculousness could make an entertaining hour were the comedic skill there to back it, but sadly, it isn't. The two multi-character playing leads are at best neurotic and at worst annoying, combining high-pitched repetition with tourettes-like twitching to form something akin to the Chuckle Brothers. None of this is helped by the thick and low-lying mist that, although atmospheric, makes it rather difficult to see what is going on.

There is, however, impressive use of sound and light: the synchronisation of movement with sound is flawless, making the physicality of the show its most appealing aspect. There is also an interesting use of video projection, bringing the piece inside the genre of Japanese horror and adding to the broadly sci-fi tone of the whole show.

In spite of strong technical design, Dark Grumblings offers weak characterisation, dialogue so fast, it is inaudible, and a narrative nigh-on impossible to follow. The glimmers of comic interest do little to rescue this overly-noisy and generally aggravating show.