Review: RON, Riverside Studios

Photo credit: Percy Walker-Smith

As a general rule, seeing one name dominating the credits of any kind of film or theatre production is something of a red flag. It puts one in mind of Tommy Wiseau - the enigmatic nutjob who had his hands on every conceivable area of production on the world’s worst film, The Room. Ted Walliker is a true quadruple threat - writer, performer, co-director and designer - but a rarity among multi-hyphenates, in that he delivers blinding quality on all fronts.

RON is an utterly loopy hour of spiralling chaos that radiates out from an utterly banal inciting incident in a McDonalds. With snowballing absurdity reminiscent of a Coen Brothers film, Walliker’s one-man show balances violence and brutality with protagonist Tony’s gentle affectations and dorky humour.

Walliker is a remarkable clown, boasting elastic physical comedy that would give Jim Carrey a run for his money. But the real shining quality of RON is the script - packed with tightly crafted puns and wrong-footing gags that keep you double-taking and second guessing throughout this completely bananas adventure. Walliker’s poetic turn of phrase and florid vocabulary is deliciously at odds with the stomach-churning content.

Walliker and collaborator Lev Govorovski also stuns with his set design, which employs a jaw-dropping reveal in the second half of this not-stand-up show.

RON is an impulsive and outrageous riot of frenzied and hilarious violence, that is ultimately revealed to be tied together with a fragile and gentle cord of truth. Brilliantly observed and intelligent stupidity. Don’t let this show pass you by.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Livvy Perrett

RON plays at Riverside Studios until 5 July, with further info here.