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Review of The Crumple Zone at Waterloo East Theatre

Writer's picture: SarahSarah
Poster for the Crumple Zone featuring a man in a Santa hat and a Christmas tree

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Buddy Thomas’s The Crumple Zone, a festive dramedy set in the chaotic run-up to Christmas, finds a home at Waterloo East Theatre, running until December 22, 2024.


Directed by Helen Bang and produced by LAMBCO Productions, this revival of a 1990s play brings a unique twist to the story by reimagining Sam, traditionally a male character, as a woman, played by Sinéad Donnelly. The change adds fresh dynamics to this tale of tangled relationships and unrequited love, though it doesn’t entirely fulfill its dramatic potential.


The play unfolds in a cramped Staten Island apartment shared by the acerbic Terry (James Grimm), the conflicted Alex (Jonny Davidson), and his absentee wife Sam. During her time away on a year long tour, Alex has embarked on an affair with Buck (James Mackay), much to Terry's dismay - both as a friend to Sam and also as he's attracted to Buck. Rounding out the cast is Nicholas Gauci as Roger, whose presence adds an chaotic and threatening energy to an already fraught environment.


The performances are the production's heart. Grimm is a force of nature as Terry, whose sardonic humor and sharp delivery inject much-needed levity into the play’s darker themes. At time this can feel a bit too frenetic and all at the same 100 mile an hour pace. The staging—featuring festive yet slightly shabby décor—effectively mirrors the characters’ chaotic lives, enhancing the play’s bittersweet tone.


Davidson and Mackay handle their characters' morally questionable actions with surprising nuance, while Donnelly’s portrayal of Sam, though heartfelt, feels underdeveloped, especially given her climactic arrival. What should have been a pivotal moment to shift the emotional stakes at the end of the first act lands with less impact than expected.


I struggled with how the concept of consent was glossed over. Roger's advances on a very intoxicated Terry, who tries to resist, felt rather uncomfortable. That could be due to looking at the play through a more modern lens - but the fact that Terry doesn't say 'no' doesn't mean that he's capable of consenting. The scene contains a brief moment (no pun intended!) of full frontal nudity.

Woman and man sitting on a rug in front of a settee and wrapped Christmas presents
Sam tries to win a conflicted Alex back. Photo credit Peter Davies

Thomas’s rapid-fire dialogue, laden with biting humor, is both a strength and a challenge. While the snappy exchanges are often hilarious, they sometimes overshadow the emotional beats, leaving little room to fully explore the characters’ inner conflicts. My companion said that on reflection, she didn't feel emotionally invested in what happened to the characters. We rather hoped that Alex would regret the affair, dump Buck and beg Sam for forgiveness. At which point Sam dumps Alex, goes to Terry's parents for Christmas dinner and meets and falls in (reciprocal) love with his hot brother/cousin/neighbour.


At its best, The Crumple Zone offers a poignant exploration of love and loss, wrapped in the glittering tinsel of Christmas comedy. Yet, it occasionally falters in delivering the dramatic heft its themes demand. Still, the cast and witty script make it an engaging, if imperfect, festive treat.


For a festive night of laughter and heartbreak, The Crumple Zone is worth a visit, even if it doesn’t quite hit all the notes it aims for.


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