Three Weeks

The Evil of Tobacco

Act Provocateur International

Part of C Electric venue’s mini-festival of one-man shows, ‘The Evil of Tobacco’ is adapted from Chekhov’s monologue but has been reworked to incorporate ideas drawn from Nabokov, Beckett and Ishiguro. A schoolmaster’s lecture on tobacco descends into a confession of his loveless marriage, sexual frustration and wasted life. Geir Kjelland does an excellent job of transforming his demeanor as the man begins to unravel, conveying his loneliness and impotent anger so well it almost becomes painful to watch. There are also some much-needed moments of humour and downright absurdity, but we are never quite sympathetic to the character. If you are looking for something challenging to sink your teeth into, this is the show to come to.

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