‘Darkly funny and brilliantly acted’
Moral Panic from Blue Dog Theatre performed by Jack Cooper and written/directed by Stewart Warwick is the perfect piece to be showcased at the beautiful Riverside Studios. The intimate space allows the audience to be up close to all the mesmerising facial expressions from Jack Cooper as Charles Hawthorne.
We first meet Charles on entry to the auditorium, working in his day job censoring films. The set is bare with basic 80’s props punctuating the room – including one of my favourites – an authentic Newspaper.
The show has a constant soundscape which is meticulously and impressively put together, from the movie soundtracks to rain/background noise. Never intrusive and always relevant, it elevates the production and allows Jack’s performance to seem less like a monologue.
Jack Cooper is impressive, his seamless transitions between characters, accents and scenes helps the audience build the world and become invested in the journey. Charles as a character is a dislikeable holier than thou boffin and Jacks performances endears an almost unendearable man.
Stewart Warwicks vaguely Talking Heads script is funny, filled with humanity and yet constantly sets you on edge. The skilled narrative with callbacks throughout really creates a full life and world which makes the ending even more disturbing.
If dark humour with an edge of fear is your bag or even if it’s not this show is one worth seeing.