Theatre review: God: A play by Woody Allen

Published on Monday 10 August 2009 20:01

GOD: A COMEDY BY WOODY ALLEN PLEASANCE DOME (VENUE 23)

THIS production of a 1975 play by the maestro of neuroses is as slick, precision-paced and Woody Allen-esque as they come.

The student ensemble UCLU Runaground, from University College London Union, have got their Noo Yoik accents refined to the most authentically-nasal degree.

They are completely on top of the convoluted turns and rapid-fire philosophising of this play-within-a-play featuring all those familiar Allen elements – writer's block, paranoia, bathos, Greek gods, sex with women who are strictly out of his league, an Allen proxy and a cameo by Allen.

Although in the absence of Allen himself, a cast member has to take on the role, and gets to pronounce "nauseous" as "nawshus" – or was that another character? They're more or less all Allen surrogates, except the women he wants to sleep with.

When they are not called upon to chew the scenery, the cast are the scenery, deftly playing all the furniture, light fittings, microphones and Tony Awards themselves.

It's all very clever but, while their efforts are impressive, it would be nice to see this talent ploughed into a piece with more of an emotional punch.

Until 31 August. Today 12:35pm.