Directed by Anna Whealing
Written by Lex Joyce
Review by Hunter King
A Play, A Pie, & A Pint have begun their winter season of new productions with Lex Joyce’s new play Zamboni at Assembly Roxy. Zamboni finds the balance between comedy and tragedy in an exploration of rediscovering community following a shared tragic event, with themes of repression, loss of innocence, and found family.
When Donal (Samuel Lee Johnston), Gus (Nathan Prestwich), and Noa (Loretta Francis) witness a traumatizing event at their work, they each must deal with their trauma and find ways of coping while also attempting to move forward with their own lives. Anna Whealing’s direction puts a focus on there being two distinct moods in the story as a whole: before the accident, and after. It is clear that this inciting incident is something that is not only traumatizing, but entirely life changing for the three workers.
Francis is perhaps the most realistic of the actors in the production with her portrayal of Noa. She balances the admittedly difficult intersectionality between Noa’s trauma, faith, and uncontrollable need to keep control and be ok even in the wake of tragedy. Prestwich continues the path of intersectionality in his portrayal of Gus, a smarmy Queer man with some history with one of the other workers at the ice rink. Prestwich plays Gus with bravado, that while sometimes bordering on caricature, reels in at the right moments for poignancy and believability. Johnston plays Donal, the most visibly impacted member of the trio, whose demeanor is seemingly forever changed after the incident. Johnston’s performance is a standout of the production, with his portrayal of shock and PTSD being some of the most affective moments of the show, hitting hard for audience members who have been witness to tragedy. His monologue describing how he deals with his newly acquired mental illnesses is one of the strongest moments of the show.
The design of the show is mostly very well done, Gillian Argo’s set design revels in simplicity that works exceptionally well, doubling from the ice rink to many other locations with simple moves with furniture. Ross Nurney’s lighting and sound design contribute well to Whealing’s vision, and despite some lighting cues being ever so slightly off of the actors, the design itself did what it needed to establish the different locations of the show.
Zamboni may flounder a bit between comedy and tragedy, with the balance never being fully settled, but this only adds to the uncomfortability of the humour following tragedy. The show keeps the audience hooked and uncomfortable but in a way that feels prescient and meaningful, resulting in a hopeful and satisfying conclusion.
Prescient and Meaningful
A Play, A Pie, and A Pint: Zamboni runs at Assembly Roxy until 14th November
Running time – Sixty minutes without interval
Review by Hunter King (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Hunter is a 2024 Master’s graduate of the University of Edinburgh and current doctoral candidate with a thesis focused on experimental theatre in Edinburgh. He has been a theatre practitioner for over a decade having worked in many capacities including as a director, actor, stage manager, front of house manager, and technician as well as others. Prior to moving to Edinburgh, Hunter was a high school English teacher in the United States. His passion for the written word as well as his passion for live performance are what motivated him to become a writer for this publication.
