Saturday 30th June 2012

Last night I ventured out to the theatre; not Shakespeare or anything quite as high brow, no, it was just a little theatre in Royal Wootton Bassett.
My friend, and one time Stand up comedy tutor, Sarah Archer was performing the last preview for her up coming Edinburgh show Constant Craving.  The concept of the show is the way in which, as a society we all crave things, beginning from a small age through to adult and and, maybe beyond that.
The purchasing of material goods becomes an ever increasing part of our lives, and as we get older the products become bigger and more expensive.  Its an ever spiralling circle of consumerism.
The first thing she talks about is the trainers she recently had bought for her as a Christmas present. Whilst they may have cost £50, that is still quite an expensive gift in the shape of footwear.  The trainers themselves are modelled on the Superhero Wonder Woman.  She goes on to explore the abilities of said hero, and specifically the golden lasso of truth.  It doesn't sound like the greatest weapon for a super hero but it would probably prove more effective in extracting a straight answer out of Tony Blair at the Levenson enquiry!
Although there is no direct corralation between the trainers and Wonder Woman, per se, there is a link to the way in which these things are produced at a fraction of the cost in some Asian sweatshop, and the pay given to the kids who make them.
As she moves through the show it becomes apparent that as a nation we are gripped by the need for all the latest advances in technology.  For example, the part that Apple play in this is overwhelming.
Sarah brought this up in the show, and by the poll that the audience took part in it does appear that the majority of people are owners of at least one product made by Apple.  I myself don't own any of their products but that is just for the simple fact I refuse to sell my soul to the devil (or Steve Jobs as Sarah referred to him).  She offered a reason as to why she believed him to be the devil, in that he lived in LA but was more often than not seen wearing a roll neck sweater.
The show wasn't all about gadgets and products made for the mass market, she also explored her fantasies and wishes as a child. 
Later in the show, Sarah returns to the theme of women using weapons to extract information from people; this time in the shape of Chesty Morgan, playing Double Agent 73.  I have never seen this film but apparently it is used as a prime example of the Sexploitation genre, dating back to the (not so) swinging 70's.  It seemed easy to make jokes at the expense of this film, especially considering the ways in which Chesty used her enormous assets in order to extrapalate information.  A camera is inserted into her left breast in order for her to take pictures of the gang members selling low grade heroin. Each time she needs to take a photo, she takes off her shirt and lifts her left breast.  This all sounds very implausible and that is where the laughs are.
Other areas of our consumer lifestyles were taken to task, not least the riots seen in British cities last summer. The highlight of this section was the photo shown of some kids looting a Pound shop.  This lack of ambition really shows the lengths people will go to, to be involved in something for the sheer hell of it: even worse when you consider one of the kids came out of the shop holding aloft packets of Haribo, and was caught on CCTV doing so.  Not only that, she had the look on her face normally only found on a Warthog that has found water for the first time in days!
Although Sarah has finished the run of previews, I think there may be some areas that need a little polishing. The overall feel of the show works, and the theme is brilliantly explored throughout.
If you attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at any point in August I would urge you to see the show.  Its free and will be at the The Lizard Lounge, Espionage (V53), 4 India Buildings, Edinburgh, EH1 2EX.