CityLife

Pawn

Pawn

Pawn
24:7 Theatre Festival 2010: Pioneer Stage
July 26, 2010

When a less-than-competent gun-toting couple hold up a pawn shop, little do they know what they are letting themselves in for.

They’ve mistimed their entrance by coming at lunch time when the owner’s gormless daughter is in charge. And they land themselves with two unwanted punters – a mouthy pregnant woman and an alcoholic Iraq war veteran – as hostages.

The result is very funny, especially as they discover the three women are old schoolmates with scores to settle – and secrets to reveal. The police negotiator can only keep up with the situation by phone – and gets a different report depending who answers.

Writer Brian Marchbank has succeeded in producing a sustained black comedy, deftly directed for Poppabear by Dennis Keighron-Foster.

The six-strong cast keep the sharp interplay flowing nicely. I particularly enjoyed Annamarie Bayley’s wide-eyed, not-so-gormless playing of the pawnbroker’s daughter Emma, reminiscent of Su Pollard in Hi-de-Hi!

Fiona Carmouch impresses as the outspoken, seen-it-all pregnant Mel and Matthew Stead matches her as Sam the soldier, who meets an unexpected end.

Christine Clare is a dominatrix of a gangster, with her unwilling partner in crime Hugh Draycott, and John McElhatton catches the temper of the watchful copper.

The 24:7 Theatre Festival runs until August 1 at New Century House, Manchester. Check www.247theatrefestival.co.uk for listings and times.