Last year Southwark Playhouse's Large Theatre hosted a hit (in fact I'm surprised
and disappointed it didn't get a further life) production of
Xanadu, and this year
in the Little space Olivia Newton-John's title song plays on a constant loop before
the start of another show largely performed on rollerskates. In theory the song's a
symbol of everything this play's characters are revolting against, and a sign that
we're in for a very different experience, but in fact Gregory S. Moss'
punkplay might turn out to have more in common with that affable piece of
'80s nostalgia than it first appears to. It's the mid 1980s in New England -
Reagan's America - and Duck's (Matthew Castle) father has kicked him out of the
house after an argument over military school. Duck turns up at his best friend
Mickey's (Sam Perry) house asking if he can stay there for a while, which turns out
to be the best part of a year during which the teenagers discover hallucinogenic
cough syrup, some really bizarre porn, and punk.
