The F Word (Theatre review)

'The f word' was such a unique experience. I had the opportunity to view a different side of theatrical performance through this play. The play began with the spotlight on a single shoe. Though we didn't get the implication in the beginning, we did when we spoke with the director. It was mind-blowing to see how this single shoe could convey the core of the entire play - a unit of two can't function in isolation. Each character in the play had a problem with their partner and also with their family as a whole. The directorial choice of spotlighting the single shoe was indeed a very smart move. The opening scene unfolded with three simultaneous actions. This revealed the personalities of each of the characters. The way the stage was divided into three, denoting three different spacial settings was a clever idea to avoid prop movements. The acting was phenomenal. The expressions on the faces conveyed a lot about their relationships with each other. The plot was a complex one yet very realistic. Basing the plot on a universal problem made it very relatable and its twists and turns jerked the audience. It was a very moving play but definitely had its great share of humour. The father's character was my favourite. The actor did proper justice to the role he played. He took the audience on a ride with his witty humour and suddenly threw them off the bridge with his serious and sentimental acting twist. It was well acted out and the sudden transformation of the play from a humorous one to something serious relief heavily on the change in the father's expression and tone. Though the father character carried this heavy weight of taking the play forward and revealing the tension in the climax, the actor made it smooth and it seemed effortless. There was also a brief breaking of the fourth wall in the play which established a rapport with the audience. The slow unveiling of the stories of each of the characters' stories was very interesting. The loo which seemed to be used as a break, and tension reliever, did have its own purpose of heartfelt conversations and revelation. The plot was very beautifully woven to reflect modern-day society and the problems faced by most people in the world. Though the answer to the question of responsibility for taking care of one's parents wasn't exactly solved, it was still greatly dealt with in a practical way. This ambiguity is very prevalent in the play just as it is in real life. This was a close to life experience which was performed with a heightened art form and made available in the most striking spectacle.