The Gymnast@ @ Pleasance Courtyard, 3-25 Aug

There is something eerie about this one-woman show. While it is clear that The Gymnast attempts to explore the cruelty of the Cambodian civil war and its aftermath, the structure of the performance makes it quite incomprehensible.

Frantic chases and disco dance styles veer between the monologues of Jane Arnfield’s characters, and this random combination of song and lunatic physicality alienates the audience and makes this reviewer wonder where Arnfield is taking us. It might be that she wants to say that while the Cambodians were slowly annihilated, the rest of the world was having fun. Although the contrast is an interesting idea to follow, Arnfield fails to present it in a clear and moving way. The sense of alienation is even more increased when the audience is asked a series of closed questions allowing no objection.
It is a shame that the show does not live up to expectations as it is obvious that Arnfield carefully researched the subject. Ultimately, the Cambodian issue is blurred by the baffling execution of (a few) quite good theatrical ideas.