By Harriet Mancey-Barratt With only two actors, a bowler hat and a suitcase, Washed Away played with the audience's expectations to brilliant effect. A sketch show, a weighty drama or a series of literary parodies? It turned out to be all three, exploring the life of a typically English office worker, Mr. Plumley, who aspires to little more than the fulfilment of his day-to-day schedule. Steak-and-kidney pie, The Daily Telegraph and the comfort of British Rail; tea and toast, Radio 4 and an obsession with the sole female he comes into contact with, the local newsagent's assistant. Then this comfortable but mundane worker is literally swept away by the tides of change. Mr. Plumley is led to challenge the foundations of his very existence through a series of events mixing classical, biblical and brilliantly bizarre influences. A filthy, thieving scavenger met in a whale's intestines turns out to be Jonah, and the two must follow an Odyssey-like path to 'happiness'. This was essentially a tale of growth and learning, but thankfully entirely lacking in any kind of Americanised talk-show moral. As English as the hero/fool, this play relied on fond disrespect as a dramatic mode entirely suited to the content. The character work was really quite astounding, even more so because of the potentially tricky on-stage switches between characters. However, these only added to the humour, with neither physical or vocal characterisation a problem for either actor. Almost more intriguing was the after-show discussion, where it soon arose that this was the first night of performance, and that the script had been revised until a few days before. Amazing then that the two played perfectly off each other with such impeccable timing and dramatic consideration. Touching and hilarious, thought-provoking and compelling, this was one of the most inspired pieces of theatre I have seen for months. Fresh and surprising while still retaining continuity and logic (of a twisted and fantastic sort), this is not something to miss. Cancel all other plans - don't even sleep - write a memo on every cigarette you buy - until you see this fantastic play. | 
