Performance nearly raided by police!

February 19th, 2010 by Isaac Jones

Police called in after Theatre Delicatessen Performance

Last night's eventful performance was certainly exciting!  Not only were we once again in the midst of one of the most exhausting, thrilling, terrifying, visceral and challenging plays I've ever read; but we were very nearly raided by the police!  Of course the police and the neighbours have been informed of the fact that a play is happening, and that the sounds of fighting and a gun shot may well be common over the next few weeks, however a new local resident was shocked enough by what she heard that she actually phoned the police! 

Before we knew it, Debs and I, looking like a bedraggled Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany's, and a Soho Square regular on the back fire escape, had torches turned on our faces and burly policemen demanding that we open the fire escape door! 

"We're doing a play!  It's OK, we're doing a performance!" we whispered down to them, in an attempt not to disturb the performance happening in the room next to us.  As if there is not enough drama in the play!  Apparantly Mauricio (our illustrious producer) then calmed the poor woman who thought something horrific was happening next door to her new flat, and confirmed with the police that it IS only a performance.   And all this was before the gun shot went off! 

It does make one remember the shocking nature of the play, but I think the fact that our neighbour rang the police is encouraging, and affirms that there is still a semblance of community spirit in London (something the play places huge importance on!)

If that's not a reason to come see this new revival of Philip Ridley's 'Mercury Fur' I don't know what is!