The end of the world. One man. One microphone. A darkly comic take on one man’s descent into madness in the years after disaster has struck
Global warming. Draught. Pollution. War. The ever-present threat of nuclear destruction. Crisis after crisis. The end has been neigh time and time again. Halley’s comet didn’t get us, 2013 arrived and proved the Mayans wrong, and the days of social distancing are over (let’s hope for good). But what happens when the apocalypse finally arrives? And what if you’re the only one left?
End of the World FM is a new one man show written and performed by Kevin Martin Murphy. This darkly comic piece follows a lone radio host’s rapid descent into madness as he lives out fifteen years of his lonely, isolated life sheltering from nuclear fallout in his recording studio-turned-bunker. Surrounded by tangled headphones and bits of kipple, the host calls out to the world through his microphone, desperate for some sort of response. In an effort to embody a true radio show, he conducts interviews with himself and ‘special guests’, delves into letters from the past, and speculates about the outside world. The piece is interspersed with pop-culture references (no spoilers, but I particularly enjoyed a joke involving a plant and a certain Disney animation) and commentary on recent celebrity news (Mr Schofield, we’re looking at you). Abstract physical theatre transitions mark the passage of five years at a time and the deteriorating mental state of our host as he loses touch with his presenting persona and descends further into desperation. A favourite segment of mine involved a stuffed bird toy and some very well-written rhyme.
As a performer, Murphy is engaging to watch. His voice is clear and articulate, booming across the room as he effortlessly slips between accents and impressions (we can excuse a couple of first-night stumbles here and there). He is playful and physical, with fantastic comedic timing. I can imagine he would do well in a melodrama or a farce. With this in mind, it is all the more touching when he breaks this energetic flow to listen in stillness to the warm, cheerful and slightly-teasing nameless voice recording of someone, we must presume, the host once knew (voiced by Rachel Verhoef). A one-man show is a difficult feat to pull-off successfully, but together Murphy and director James Tudor Jones have created quite the spectacle.
As with any radio show, the sound design (also by Murphy) was imperative to shaping the world of the play and vividly portraying our host’s inner turmoil, immersing the audience and supporting the story.
In terms of the storyline things became a little repetitive. Although Murphy’s performance grabbed my attention and the script was funny, I found that things didn’t really move on. There was a beginning, and there was an end, but the middle was somewhat blurred. It’s possible that a more fully fleshed-out character could have added depth to the narrative, as occasionally, the emphasis on relatability might have led to a slightly superficial portrayal. Nonetheless, the overall experience remained enjoyable and engaging, and I’m excited to see what Murphy comes up with next.
End of the World FM runs at The Space until 29th July before going on to play at The Cockpit on 7th and 8th August as part of this year’s Camden Fringe Festival. With a running time of just around 65 minutes, I recommend it as an entertaining and thought-provoking way to spend your time. If you see it before it transfers make sure you pay a visit to The Space Bar, a lovely little place with an array of drinks and large selection of board games to make for a wholesome evening with friends.