Presented by Edinburgh University Theatre Company
Review by Esme Hallworth
With a short rope and gritty determination, two men dramatically strangle another, a startling opening that sets the tone for Cogito, Ergo… Something?. Although their relationship is difficult to gauge – romantic? platonic? or simply just partners in crime? – Anthony and Sebastian have brutally murdered Henry. But why? Their motive seems to be little more than Henry’s profound dullness and lack of charm. Having done the deed, they toast to their success with the self-congratulatory satisfaction of two men rather pleased with themselves.
Then the phone rings. It’s Agatha.
“Oh hello, my darling Sebastian. Can’t wait to see you tonight. I’ll be there in ten!”
A forgotten dinner party: the ultimate spanner in the murderous works.
With guests on their way, the pair clumsily fold Henry into their kitchen table-cum-coffin – the show must go on, after all. Dani J Bryant is impressively convincing as the dead Henry, their floppy lifeless body becoming a comic prop in the increasingly chaotic evening.
Lucas Knepper embodies Anthony with an uptight energy, whilst Rishi Bhardwaj’s Sebastian is jumpy and awkward, making a suitably anxious double act. Agatha, injected with sass by Emily Cottle, breezes into the apartment bearing the essential chicken wine, oblivious to the absurdity unfolding around her. Next enters the insufferably smug couple, Alex and Alex: Jude Araim with Reuben Strickland are perpetually energetic as the self-satisfied pair. Lastly, Oliver Mason’s Wyndham, or ‘Windy’, is so spectacularly posh that he can hardly speak, instead chortling and drawling his way through his lines. The gag is funny initially, although its repetition eventually wears thin. The cast lean enthusiastically into caricatures of posh philosophical students, though the philosophical references themselves are fleeting and often superficial.
Despite the lively performances, Cogito, Ergo… Something? ultimately suffers from an unclear artistic objective. Nevertheless, this new script, written and directed by James Harvey with Bella Burgess as assistant director, is effortlessly farcical, needing just a little more direction to give the story greater purpose without sacrificing its considerable comic chaos.
Impressivly Convincing
Cogito, Ergo… Something? runs at venue 49, Auditorium at Bedlam Theatre at 12:30
Running time – Sixty minutes
Review by Esme Hallworth (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Esme is a recent graduate of University College London where she studied French and Philosophy. With vague though undying aspirations of being a wordsmith of some variety, reading, writing, music and theatre are her centre of gravity. For Esme, Edinburgh Fringe is a much anticipated and treasured time to witness human creativity at its best and weirdest and she is excited to be thoroughly bewildered once again this year.
