Manchester Theatre News & Reviews
REVIEW - I Bought A Flip Phone is extremely relatable to Gen Z and the comedy really shines through!
BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
On Thursday, we were invited to HOME, Manchester to see I Bought A Flip Phone. See what our reviewer, Lizzie Johnston thought about this new play...
Do you ever think about switching off your phone, or deleting the social media apps, or just chucking the device into a fountain Devil Wears Prada Style? Well, this show is exactly that and embraces taking the plunge and switching to a classic flip phone.
I Bought a Flip Phone, a play by Panos Kandunias, follows 26-year-old Charlie who buys a flip phone in the hopes that it will help him live his own life instead of constantly comparing himself to others. He’s sick of looking at his smartphone, waiting for his best friend to reply and his mum who won’t stop messaging - so the flip phone is an early birthday present to himself.
Kandunias was extremely engaging throughout the one-hour performance, keeping the audience entertained the whole time. He would always direct questions back to us, allowing us to join in and I even found myself questioning how bad my screen time is or if I’m also addicted to my phone.
It was an upbeat show with lots of comical moments, yet still explored deeper issues around loneliness and the desire for genuine connection. Charlie just wants to meet people in the real world and not through social media, and ultimately focus on living his life away from the screen - a simple thought that I’m sure many of us have had.
The set was extremely simple and stripped back, with just a small bench in the centre and a stool to one side. Kandunias' costume was also simple - a black t shirt and black jeans. This added to the intimacy of the show, particularly as it was also performed in a smaller space, meaning it allowed for all the audience interactions and for the audience to stay engaged with Kandunias for the full hour.
Kandunias' performance as Charlie was an in-depth insight into how it feels to be in your mid-twenties, with all the life changes and adulthood really kicking in. His comedic timing and quick wit was excellent, and equally balanced by the slower more thoughtful moments where he opened up about the reasons why he decided to disconnect from social media.
The running time of one hour made this a great mid-week show, and it’s impressive how much material Kandunias fitted into the time slot. There were ups and downs when talking about Charlie’s life and feelings, and even a few moments for dancing in gay bars!
The play, I Bought a Flip Phone, left me thinking whether I should try it out and go back to text and phone calls only. It’s an hour-long insight into typical Gen Z thoughts - even with a few Barbie mentions! As a Gen Z myself, it was extremely relatable and the comedy really shone through.
WE SCORE I BOUGHT A FLIP PHONE...
I Bought A Flip Phone is on at HOME, Manchester until Saturday 14th September 2024.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE!
