RedBellyBlack Theatre Company 2014

Smoking Ban by Milo Boyd on 4th August 2014 Smoking Ban is a one-woman show that, in just over an hour, offers a sympathetic, funny and compellingly real look at the mucky heart of the tobacco industry. A fingertip-to-toe actress, willing to bare all and unafraid to distort her Australian accent first into an American drawl and then various humorous British imitations. Slipping through the curtains and into the shoes of a tobacco lobbyist is Carroll, a peppy American sporting a red dress, lipstick and plenty of sarcasm. With a welcoming smile Carroll gesticulates across the stage and fixes us with her ‘come hither’ eyes. As discerning adults the decision to smoke may well be our hands, but as critics of Carroll, we are putty. The speech ends and reality begins. With the veneer of her work life put to one side, the audience is allowed into the troubled mind of a woman sodden with British drizzle and far away from home. Carroll is a professional. She is keen to please and even keener to succeed. But as the smokescreen dissipates, the addict’s headache creeps in and the thrill of over-the-boss’-desk debauchery gets a little lost. Past ghosts start to... (read more)

Saturday 23 August 2014 | By  Hannah Cutting ED2014 Theatre Review: Smoking Ban (RedBellyBlack) ED2014 4/5 Reviews   ED2014 Theatre Reviews   This play took me by surprise. It opens with shiny Americanised charm, manicured gesticulations and flawless accents. It was immediately funny, but the humour was at the level of miming sex acts. However this one-woman show subtly unfurls to reveal a nuanced character study and reflection upon social pressures of compliance. Kate Goodfellow’s multi-rolling is masterful; her portrayal of protagonist Carol (who could have stepped off the set of ‘Mad Men’), middle-aged boss Jerry and an array of office gossips are highlights. The plot was occasionally jumpy, and lighting changes between scenes seemed unnecessary and it was uncertain what these changes indicated. However this is a stellar performance by Goodfellow in a slick, thought-provoking comedy. theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, until 23 Aug. tw rating 4/5 | [Hannah Cutting]

Edinburgh Fringe 2014 Smoking Ban Genre: Drama Venue: theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (V53) Low Down A new one woman show, Smoking Ban centres around Carol, Health & Science Officer at Anglo American Tobacco and asks… what happens when the Smoking Ban goes all the way... to the Top? Review Carol is whole heartedly committed to Anglo American Tobacco. She is thrilled to be the Health & Science Officer and spends some time convincing us that smoking is an adult choice, part of a varied and balanced lifestyle, and that ‘addiction’ doesn’t exist – that it is merely an excuse. Her commitment goes as far as making good use of the weekly free allowance of Anglo American products and providing Jerry, the MD, with a regular Tuesday shag. Everyone in the organisation is a loyal user and business proceeds in a fog of Anglo American tobacco at every level… until the smoking ban arrives. Loyalties are tested throughout the building as old habits are challenged but never really die. But for Carol it begins a process of rethinking exactly what she values and why. Imperceptibly at first but with quickly gathering pace her world soon begins to fall apart. This is... (read more)