Fish Bowl

Peacock Theatre

Whilst 1 hour 25 minutes is a short show... It's a little too long for this piece. A comic mime piece that will make you chuckle. All about 3 people who live in attic apartments in Paris.

If you are after something a little different, then this is worth a look! Fish Bowl is a unique and quirky theatre piece written by Agathe L’Huillier and Olivier Martin-Salvan. It's a comic mime piece set in a tiny apartment block in Paris and all about the three people who live there. The comedy comes from the relatable, exaggerated, realistic issues. At first, it seems like a set of comic scenes, but halfway through, a narrative forms.

Whilst it does make you laugh and there's something in there for everyone, it is very long, and as the storyline forms halfway through, it's hard to fully engage with the content. Near the end, the tone turns into something dark, which is a complete 360 flip from the tone set at the start. This shift feels out of place and unneeded. The comedy of the show is light-hearted and gives the audience a false sense of security, and when it flips, it's a bit uncomfortable. However, so much energy has gone into this show, and the cast works well together to create a clear non-verbal piece. Such an interesting set as well! The production is just a bit long and fragmented.

There are three characters in the show, and each is vastly different from the others. However, they create a fun dynamic and an authentic style. The characters are a blonde lady who is a little chaotic, a super clean man and a cluttered man. They are all clumsy with big personalities. They work well together to create a trio of interesting characters, and every audience member can relate to an aspect of each of them. It is impressive how much they can engage the audience non-verbally. It's something a little silly. However, the point of the show and the message is unclear... it does not really seem like there is one. There's a love triangle, a bit of drama and a whole lot of awkwardness. It's clear that the actors are very confident and are comfortable with being silly on stage, whether it lands or not. Their timing with the technical aspects is in great time, and their expressive skills are great!

Whilst the set was this organised chaos, it added to the tone of the piece and helped create the comedy. Laura Léonard is the set designer, and what she has crafted is interesting. The apartment block is 3 entirely different aesthetics, and each room bleeds into the next... quite literally. To show the tiny space and how their lives eventually merge. Some lovely visuals are created, and the functions of the set are rather impressive/futuristic in a way.

The show is interesting and unique. However, it just is not very strong. The scenes feel like they were created before the story itself, so they don't flow, and it drags, especially at the end. However, the cast has created some interesting characters and clearly shows how their relationships develop at the end of the piece. It's something a little silly and different. This is just not a style that I am used to, and others may appreciate it more! But theatre is a different experience for everyone!