The Night Ali Died
New Athenaeum Theatre, Dunedin
Sunday, March 15
REVIEWED BY TIM SCOTT
A blue coat, a red hoodie, a black blazer and a white tank top - Christopher Sainton-Clark transforms himself into a myriad of compelling characters in his latest solo outing The Night Ali Died.
Presented by Raising Cain Productions, it follows the titular Ali, who is thrust headlong into a criminal investigation after his curiosity and newfound lust for life gets the better of him.
I will leave you to find out how an egg and cress sandwich snowballs into a double homicide in the streets of Norwich, but it is safe to say this performance was engaging and entertaining.
Sainton-Clark, whose fantastic solo performance A Year and a Day was a personal favourite of mine at last year’s Dunedin Fringe Festival, is once again a delight to watch.
Several simple costume changes create a dynamic cast of four primary characters - from a disgruntled career criminal to a duplicitous, middle-aged detective.
Sainton-Clark’s posturing, accents and little mannerisms also cap off each performance.
A venue like the NAT is perfect for these types of performances; the props are simple and the focus is given to Sainton-Clark’s acting chops.
Some characters are funnier than others.
A lamentation on the administrative doldrums of running a criminal enterprise - such as your ‘‘boys’’ getting ‘‘uppity’’ at a lack of holiday pay - received quite a few laughs.
I will be sure to keep my eyes peeled for whatever Sainton-Clark may bring to next year’s festival.
This one is worth seeing.
Further performances are today and tomorrow at 8.30pm.
