THE TRACKERS OF OXYRHYNCHUS – Finborough Theatre

Finborough Theatre, London – until 28 January 2017

The first show of this year was something fantastic
Or was it? Can you tell I’m being sarcastic
A satire on satyrs is quite an objective
Was all Greek to me though and far from effective

Moving from Egypt to Greece and then London
The piece shifts from ancient times right through to modern
Written by a man named Tony Harrison
It sure is a play without comparison

Writing in metre pulls focus, not great though
Especially when you rhyme potato with Plato
Still not as distracting as Muppet-like penises
Dangling from menfolk like faux fur filled weaknesses

The programme’s stuffed with words like didaskalia
And dithyramb too, ’bout which I’ve no idea
Nor do I know why there’s random tap-dancing
Though with no shirts on it was fairly entrancing

The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus is the title
And if you speak Greek there’s a bit of recital
For me though I felt disengaged and feeling ‘huh’
Which is disappointing when at the ace Finborough

Running time: 75 minutes (without interval)
Photos: S R Taylor Photography
Booking until 28th January

Ian Foster

Since 2003, Ian Foster has been writing reviews of plays, sometimes with a critical element, on his blog Ought to Be Clowns, which has been listed as one of the UK's Top Ten Theatre Blogs by Lastminute.com, Vuelio and Superbreak. He averages more than 350+ shows a year. He says: "Call me a reviewer, a critic or a blogger, and you will apparently put someone or other's nose out of joint! So take it or leave it, essentially this is my theatrical diary, recording everything I go to see at the theatre in London and beyond, and venturing a little into the worlds of music and film/TV where theatrical connections can be made."