The Breakup of Cause and Effect [author-post-rating] (2/5 Stars)

Is it possible for a joke to become old instantaneously? How short can a gag’s theatrical half-life last? In this case study of The Breakup of Cause and Effect it appears to be less than the time it takes for the two performers to enter the theatre.

This ‘quirky’ pair are the law of causality personified. Unless you weren’t already clear on the premise the actors are helpfully sporting Cause (Rob DiNinni) and Effect (Larry Jay Tish) T-Shirts as they stride onto the stage. Regrettably, we’re already 20 steps ahead of them. Every binge eating to weight gain gag, every happy hour to hangover punchline, we can see them coming several leagues off. The metaphysical well is dry before the performance has even begun.

Amongst the attempts at humour, the actors begin quoting philosophers and physicians. For these misplaced didactic asides they choose to stand on a box in the centre of the stage. You might say it was demonstrably flow-breaking but for a production as disjointed as this it seems oddly appropriate. Furthermore there’s a slowly dawning realisation that the actors are very literally placing themselves on a pedestal during these self-congratulatory digressions. They give the impression of a proud student loudly voicing his obscure and credit-worthy references as he hands in a substandard essay.

There’s a slightly sadistic urge for the topic to turn to the illogical world of quantum physics, so that these two fundamental laws might disappear entirely along with their anthropomorphic avatars. In its closing stages the piece makes a bizarre impromptu trip to Ireland as Cause sets off to join the circus. The dire consequences of the rash decision to leave his other half are brought to light. The story meets a metaphysical dead end in the form of the American actor walking on his knees dressed as a leprechaun attempting to explain plot points from floor level. A 30-second comedy sketch stretched out into an hour long performance, where it’s given the time and space to discover all the reasons why it’s not funny.

The Break Up of Cause and Effect is playing at C nova as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival until 26 August. For more information and tickets, please see to the Edinburgh Fringe Website.