Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People – Andy Massingham’s Rough House

by Paula Citron.
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Rough House
Nightswimming/LKTYP
Created and Performed by Andy Massingham
Directed by Brian Quirt
At Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People until Apr. 20.
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Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People is having a great season, and one of the jewels in the crown is Andy Massingham’s solo show Rough House. There is not one word spoken. Rather, Massingham performs physical theatre which translates into a lot of clever sight gags using the body and simple props.

Kudos to lighting designers Rebecca Picherack and Michelle Ramsay for one of the more imaginative grids this season. Ramsay, in fact, is on hand to manipulate lighting cues manually. Brian Quirt has directed with careful attention to timing and pacing.

The opening of the show is a long extended duet for Massingham and an electric bulb hanging from the ceiling. By the time the sequence is over, you believe that light bulb is alive. A bowl and a chair get used for similar effect.

Children squealed with delight and adults guffawed with laughter.

Rough House continues at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People Theatre until Apr. 20.