I Have Never Cared For Sunsets, Regency Tavern, various dates until May 20, call 01273 917272 (From The Argus)

I Have Never Cared For Sunsets, Regency Tavern, various dates until May 20, call 01273 917272

12:20pm Tuesday 8th May 2012 in Fringe Reviews By Duncan Hall

Anyone doubting Sir Isaac Newton’s theories on gravity need only have sat in the front row of Garyhaus Players strange puppet show on Saturday afternoon.

One after another, both sets of seats in the small space deep in the bowels of the Regency Tavern collapsed during the 40-minute performance – and proved to be the highlights of the show.

Set in a mysterious place, in a mysterious time, the play ostensibly follows a young Isaac Newton as he battles to get his theory of gravitation accepted by a series of ever-changing rulers – among them 20th-century philosopher Karl Popper and ancient Greek master of paradoxes Zeno Of Elea.

This is theatre that requires a little background knowledge and reading – and as such is pretty mystifying to anyone coming to it fresh. With its constant references to potatoes and leeches, the script is a series of in-jokes strung together, and the final product has the distinct air of an end-of-term revue by the local philosophy club.

Aside from the brilliantly expressive orange Muppety-puppet standing in for the rulers Popper, Zeno, Colin and George, the puppetry itself is based around a series of Punch and Judy-style dolls.

They are all crafted with different personalities, from teachers to doctors, but lack much variation in terms of performance – with much more energy coming from the character of a power-seeking bouncing tennis ball with goggly eyes.

Live musician Tye McGivern is well integrated into the performance, as he reacts to the puppets and adds some much-needed atmosphere with musical breaks.