theatre review

The Skin Of Our Teeth

The American High School Theatre Festival

Some plays, even Pulitzer winning plays by great authors, should be left to gather dust on the shelves. Thornton Wilder's 'The Skin Of Our Teeth' is one such play. The time hopping script follows the Antrobus family as they try and stay together throughout ice ages, Biblical floods and seven years wars, and with its allegory, symbolism and direct addresses to the audience, doubtless it was daringly inventive in 1942; now it seems mannered and incoherent. The cast stage it competently, but they fail to make the Antrobus family likeable or believable, giving the audience no human story to engage with. This play needs a radical vision and superb ensemble acting to work, neither of those are present here.

Church Hill Theatre, 10 - 15 Aug (not 12, 13), times vary, £5.00, fpp 227

tw rating: 2/5

published: Sep-2009

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