Hundreds of people watched ‘The Review by Martin Dockery’ held at the Tom Hendry Warehouse in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival on Friday afternoon.
Set in a law office, Martin Dockery and Andrew Broaddus play two lawyers in the middle of a performance review.
Classified as a play-dramedy, the show does a good job at balancing the intended seriousness of the setting, with levity through well-timed humour.
Precise body language enhanced the setting and added to the tensity of the scenes. Actions like taking a sip of coffee or pacing around the office, made the scene more realistic.
Character profiles
The opening scene unfolds as Dockery’s character is being scrutinized by Broaddus’ for his contributions or lack thereof to the firm.
Dockery masterfully portrays an older but subordinate lawyer that is annoyed his work needs to be evaluated. His character comes across as intentionally argumentative and mischievous.
Broaddus acts well as a younger but more authoritative figure trying to feign modesty but has an edge of arrogance.
Dressed in suits, Dockery and Broaddus are believable as lawyers. Dockery is dressed in a lighter but matching suit, which is reflective of his less intense but calculated character.
Broaddus was dressed in darker colours to evoke confidence but appeared less cohesive than Dockery’s character to show his internal self-doubt.
Although not a human character, the play does a good job at incorporating an AI agent, named Sapphire reminiscent of Siri or Alexa.
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Entertaining and engaging
As the performance review goes on, it becomes jeopardized at the revelation that Broaddus’ character accidentally sent a suggestive picture to Dockery’s character’s wife.
As the show continues, Dockery’s character tries to use the information he has to blackmail Broaduss’ character to pass the review.
Themes of betrayal, rejection, and striving were present and well woven into the play, under the guise of a standard evaluation.
Tickets to the show can be bought here. It is an entertaining watch!