Would Be Nice Though – Pulse Fringe Festival

There is always a quandary in reviewing shows in how much of the plot to give away. You need to give enough flavour of the piece without spoiling any plot twists or devices for future audiences.

Holly Bodmer and Dot Howard’s Would Be Nice Though gives the critic even more of a headache. The entire concept of the show relies on the element of surprise and ingenuity that to give much more than the basic themes would prove disastrous.

Suffice to say that Holly and Dot are waiting for a job interview. It’s a situation we can all relate to, the weighing up the rival candidates. Are they more confident than you? Younger? Older? More experienced? Better dressed? Have they prepared a presentation?

There’s then the difficult subject of small talk. How much do you reveal about yourself, how much can you find out about them? Behind the smiles and the platitudes it’s open warfare – given half the chance you’d soon drop them in it and claim the job for yourself.

Would Be Nice Though is a beautifully observed and often subtle piece that, although moves into the absurd at times, is totally compelling and despite, the surreal nature, utterly convincing.

Both Bodmer and Howard revel in the detail – tiny gestures and moments that just catches the eye but add to the authenticity. The moment when one spots that her scarf matches the tablecloth, a moment when both fight over a ringing phone may be small but are delightful comedic touches. Cleverly conceived and performed, this is a piece that will have you talking long after the half hour performance has ended.

To give much more away would be to spoil the pure enjoyment of the piece. Think, however, The Apprentice meets Waiting for Godot and you may end up along the right lines. The best advice – if you get the chance, go with an open mind and open eyes. This is one show where you need to watch the minutiae and your fellow audience members.

One thing is for sure – you’ll never be able to see the recruitment process again in quite the same light.