The Bathtub Grin are at it again in bringing laughs and eccentric  in their new performing play The Distillery. A captivating piece of shadow puppets and twisted plot that make The Distillery a dazzling performance to watch.

Created and Performed by The Bathtub Grin, Cristian Woodford supplied the narrative to this bizarre story. Audiences are first introduced to Woodford with him sitting behind the screen in a rocking chair with song, showcasing the puppetry. The story is about two brother played by Hamish Lyall and Kattan Shaw. They are bartenders who have been trapped from the world in the distillery, but when they finally escape things are not what they seem. In hopes to revive their town again, the two brothers take matters into their own hands, causing more harm than good. Murder, insanity and betrayal are some of the themes cross in this absurdist style performance.

Located in Feat In Space Theatre in Oakover Rd., run by Gareth Ellis and Amanda Falson. Who are both are actors, writers and directors, dedicated in prompting theatre artists towards the community by being self-funded unit.
The staging of the play was simple and effective in their plot. There was a screen all along the stage for their use of shadow puppets and a prop of the bar. The use of shadow puppets provided the mise en scène in inviting audiences to their dynamic madness of the play. Although, the staging was bare, with only the bar as the main use, it still kept spectators engaged with their humorist characters.

There were four actors, three male and one female. Jessica Kelly played the bipolar raging woman, who thrilled audience with her delightful and complex personality. The cast was coherent in the understanding of space and their characters. The plot of the play fell a bit stiff towards the end, feeling rushed.

In all, the show was an entertaining night. It is an hour performance, enjoyable for anyone who fancies dark comedies or any comedy in general. Can’t wait to see what other works The Bathtub Grin comes up with.