F*ck Decaf

F*ck Decaf
By Tyler Jacob Jones. The Cutting Room Floor. Directed by Scott Corbett. Mary Street Bakery, Highgate, WA. 29 May - 14 June 2014

F*ck Decaf is an hilarious play in a fun setting.

For the most part a swift two-hander (aside from a gorgeous cameo by Jack Walker), F*ck Decaf follows a series of coffee dates between idealistic and conservative Ruby (Amanda Watson) and her wilder best and oldest friend Kate (Ann-Marie Biagioni). Superb and highly energetic performances from the performers kept the pace flowing in a captivating show.

Director Scott Corbett makes the most of the unusual space. The presenting company, The Cutting Room Floor, aims to use non-conventional performance spaces and Mary Street Bakery is essentially a rather cool coffee shop on Perth's busiest cafe strip. Even on a weekday evening the passing pedestrian traffic is heavy and this works its way, in a surprising fashion, into the production. Using only existing lighting, seating and furnishings, Mary Street Bakery becomes the perfect performance space.

The true star of this production though is the writing. Author Tyler Jacob Jones was named in Perth's Sunday Times Magazine last week as one of Western Australia's "Best and Brightest" and this brilliant and breathless play is testament to that talent. Comic and clever, the play turns in very unexpected directions and is the funniest new show I have seen since…well… one of Tyler Jacob Jones previous shows.

F*ck Decaf is a slightly naughty, clever, feel-good show that makes witty observations about relationships and growing older and will entertain both those going through their matchmaking years and those who remember them with fondness or embarrassment. Oh…and this is a slightly tactile production. Don't sit in the front row if you value your clothing. There is a splash zone.

Kimberley Shaw

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