The Trojan War . A Slightly Isolated Dog. Directed by Leo Gene Peters. The Q Theatre. May 14-15. 

New Zealand’s A Slightly Isolated Dog came through a couple of years ago with Don Juan and Jekyll and Hyde. Their forte is funny, anarchical stuff, slightly creepy and with a feeling of improvisation brought up to concert pitch. They do it all in French accents and oddly Gothic costumes. There’s singing and music and many sound effects. They are Susie Berry, Jack Buchanan, Andrew Paterson, Johnathan Price and Comfrey Sanders.

They are adept at co opting audience into speaking roles with the adroit use of cue cards. Given the size of the Trojan War story and that there are only five in the cast that’s real assistance in retelling a massive multi character epic. The first night’s audience was more than happy to oblige.

Parts are played by whoever is available at a given moment, audience or actors. Props and costumes are lashed together out of oddments  with some particularly gorgeous recreations of ancient helmets. The Trojan Horse is a visual triumph made out of cardboard boxes. And Helen of Troy, no matter who plays her,  evokes deep beauty with a crown, a veil and a handheld torch. 

In fact despite the general insanity of the playing and the bursting into song it would not be a bad introduction to Homer and this fundamental Western legend.  There’s much stopping to explain what you might have forgotten and who is who, from Helen to Paris to Hector to Achilles. A Slightly Isolated Dog make sure you never get lost. 

They are back in Queanbeyan but only briefly. But it was a welcome return for this audience manipulating bunch. Give them a full house tonight. 

Alanna Maclean