Werewolf
After much consternation, those assigned to Safehouse 656 have shuffled inside and taken their seats, confused and concerned, the door closed but only moments after reopened to allow a late arriving warden entry, delayed by a largely fruitless search for additional provisions, Stella and Hannah already having broken one of the cardinal rules of their position, arguing that had Joel been a few seconds faster he would have been safe inside.
Information thin and the wardens refusing to disclose what they do or do not know, rumour and gossip their preferred communication medium, the radio broadcasts the symptoms of the rapidly spreading and swiftly mutating infection the quarantine is intended to slow: hair growth, rapid breathing, inability to regulate temperature, the progression of the disease exacerbated by stress, a self-reinforcing loop of those afflicted by lycanthropy, the victim more commonly called a werewolf.
Performed by Joel Baxendale, Stella Reid and Hannah Kelly, Werewolf is described on the troupe’s own website as “an immersive show inspired by the classic game of social deduction,” a more accurate summation than the Fringe listing of a theatrical performance offering a “gripping blend of thriller and comedy” which neglects to mention the inspiration, compounded by failure to explain the requirement of the audience, presuming they are familiar with the game or adequately set the scene with backstory and atmosphere.
The premise requiring fast responses drawn from the cards left on each seat, ineffectually marshalling a room holding ten times the dozen players the game is intended for, few knowing the rules or ready to respond when they receive the cue for their interaction, Werewolf will change every night and some will fall flat, the wardens forcing confrontation in order to move the slim premise forward rather than allowing a narrative to develop, the actors coming across as poorly prepared as their antagonistic characters as they drive an outcome rather than allowing it to develop.
Werewolf continues at the Techcube at Summerhall until Monday 31st August
