Let鈥檚 face it, quantum physics is seldom a promising subject for the
theatre鈥攏ot even experimental theatre. So it鈥檚 no surprise that fringe
company Reckless Sleeper鈥檚 Schr枚dinger鈥檚 Box, despite the protestations of
the programme notes, has nothing much to do with particle physics. The play
would make far more sense if it were titled 鈥淏lack Box鈥�.
Five actors, using few props and almost no dialogue, interact on a set
consisting of a big black box, with one side open to the audience and several
doors in the sides and ceiling. At first the action is baffling: actors and
props pop continually in and out of the box, apparently at random. But
gradually, you begin to see that what you鈥檙e really looking at is a sort of
black box experiment in which it鈥檚 up to you to discover the constantly shifting
rules that govern the action. It鈥檚 good this thing doesn鈥檛 go on for more than
its hour running time, but it has to be said that that hour is entertaining,
funny鈥攅ven intellectually interesting. Last performances at the ICA this
week. For tour dates, telephone 0171 833 2171 or e-mail
belasco@globalnet.co.uk.