The Incredibly Scary Object by Joe Edgar. The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 408 Brockley Road, London until 31 August 2024.

3✩✩✩ Review: William Russell.

“Entertaining sci-fi story.”

Science fiction in the theatre seldom happens and this play by Joe Edgar makes a refreshing change. Stars always worry me – this is a fascinating, challenging evening but it has its flaws so go expecting to be entertained while puzzled as to just what is going on and why at times and don't worry about the fact it doesn't get four of them. If you travel with the doctor whenever you can this is probably for you.

In Australia scientists from Nasa and a rival organisation are investigating a mysterious object which has appeared in space and is simply sitting there doing nothing, not even what asteroids do, while the space probe sent to investigate has gone silent. A press conference has to be called by the somewhat flustered leader of the station and the assorted scientists there squabble over what to say. The arguments are funny, but everyone needs to slow down a little – talk too fast and sometimes clarity goes. The goings are being, indeed have been recorded, by a writer played by Eddie Mann for a book about this thing from outer space which may, or may not, have turned up in the room while the rival experts squabble. Edgar conjures up a bumbling boffin nicely, and April Storm Perry gets ever nore frantic as the boss deciding what she can say to the press, while Alex Crook, Sydney Crockert and Xavier Starr differentiate the scientific types, serious, sarcastic or intent of having a fight effectively. Trying to work it all out afterwards is well worth the effort but director Jessy Roberts could get them all to talk a little less quickly, articulate a little more clearly. Not sure it was a scary evening in sci-fi terms but it was certainly an entertaining one and refreshing to have aliens apparently only there to observe rather than interfere if, indeed, the object contained any.

Cast

Eddy Mann – the writer.

April Storm Perry – the head of the mission.

Sydney Crocker, Joe Edgar, Xavier Starr, Alex Crook – the scientists.

Creatives

Director – Jessy Roberts.

Assistant Director – Finn Lanchester.

Original Music – Stanley Welch.