The Time Machine – A Comedy at Leeds Playhouse

I was going to begin this article by concocting something about me being in a future time-frame, but I changed my mind as I have just read all the other reviews which were published next month, and they all did that.

When I received the stock images of the production, I must admit to being a little wary as they looked as though they were portraying an out-and-out farce, which is not my favourite form of comedy(?) Don’t get me wrong, this is a pretty daft show in many ways, but it is also extremely witty and wonderfully acted by the cast of three. There is George Kemp who plays George Wells, the great-great-great grandson of H G Wells, the author of the novel on which the show is very loosely based, Michael Dylan, who is Michael O’Reilly in this play, and Amy Reville as Amy Times. I hope that I have spelled the last two characters’ surnames names properly as they aren’t in the programme. It doesn’t really matter though as they each played multiple roles anyway.

As well as the three actors, the creatives made huge contributions to keeping the suspense going as well as the frenetic pace, with never a missed step, well hardly! Orla O’Loughlin directed the piece which was written by Steven Canny and John Nicholson. Fred Meller was the Designer with Colin Grenfell in charge of the lighting, Greg Clarke, the Sound Designer and Gareth Swindall-Parry Sound Associate.

The protagonists are three best friends who are rehearsing an adaptation of The Time Machine which George has written, but it isn’t going very well. Like all friends, they do a lot of arguing and messing about, however, during the course of the evening, they manage not only to create a Time Machine, but also utilise it and enlighten us as to why it shouldn’t work! On the way we encounter a murder, a Cher tribute act and an hilarious hip hop dance based on The Importance of Being Earnest.

It is the structure of the piece which sets it aside with the very first scene involving Michael talking directly to the audience, who are drawn into the play as the evening goes on, some of them literally. Far from making the punters squirm in their seats, whilst hoping they are not called upon to help, everyone seemed only too eager to participate, as the skill of the actors meant that the chosen few were not embarrassed in any way, even though they were assisting in the jokes. It could have had something with their ingratiating themselves with the people of Leeds in general. Ey up luv.

Michael Dylan with his two fans, Amy Revelle and George Kemp

I am sorry to be so vague here, but it would be spoiling things if I delved too deeply into the ‘plot’ as the element of surprise is essential for you to enjoy the entertainment. The best piece of acting I think I have ever seen, occurred a short way into the play when the comedy was toned down to such an extent that the incident seemed real. ‘Nuff said.

The two main groups of people referred to in the book – which frightened the life out of me when I read it as a young lad – are there; the Eloi and the Morlocks, one of whom was played by Jasmine from the audience. There was also Weena, Amy Revelle, a woman who The Traveller, unnamed in the novel, meets on his journey into the future. Other unsuspecting actors for the night were Michael, from the third row of the stalls, who was Michael O”Reilly’s date, and Holly, someone with no artistic experience, chosen to draw a picture of the occasion, ostensibly coming up with a passable Lowryesque interpretation of the scene.

In conclusion, should you fancy a great night out, filled with comedy – both daft and subtle – a couple of Cher songs, a hip hop dance display and a flip chart presentation on the physics of time travel, then this is the show for you. I must say that I was left with the distinct impression that there is such a thing as a quantum leap in time as the two hours seemed to fly by.

The Time Machine is an Original Theatre production and is at Leeds Playhouse until Saturday, 6th April. For further details and tickets please go to https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/the-time-machine/

If you can get to the show, please do so, but if you can’t, take a look at https://originaltheatre.com/productions/the-time-machine where you can find out more about Original Theatre and stream the play so you too can enjoy it, albeit without the unique theatrical atmosphere it deserves.

So, until we meet before, here’s to the previous time!

All photographs, by Mark Douet. Feature image supplied by Leeds Playhouse.