REVIEW: Inescapable @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Valerie’s Review)

The less you know about Inescapable before going in, the better. So I’m going to keep the plot details to a minimum. All I’ll say is that this is about two men who keep repeating the same conversation endlessly. That doesn’t make it sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but a smart, well-written script makes Inescapable a thrilling endeavor. Even though the conversation is literally repetitive, it’s never boring. It’s like a spiral, spinning and spinning downwards into never-ending madness. And since I love plays that lean towards the absurd, this was right up my alley.

Inescapable is very professionally done from both a performance and direction standpoint. Both Martin Dockery and Jon Paterson turn in fantastic performances. Dockery brings his signature larger-than-life gestures and manic energy, while Paterson balances out the crazy with a much more even-keeled performance that still goes through multiple emotional shifts. Their dialogue is rapid-fire and Vanessa Quesnelle’s direction keeps Inescapable from being static.