Anthropoetry

Anthropoetry explores the unlikely link between lyricism and anatomy; a whistle-stop tour around the body, with interludes of slam poetry, rap and beatbox. Led by Ben Mellor, the show comprises (very) loosely themed works, pinned together with a light spattering of humour and the odd satirical comment.

This is complemented with a live musical score performed by a seemingly uncooperative Dan Steele, alongside a very handy loop machine which adds a necessary drama to proceedings. In his white coat and stethoscope, Mellor definitely looks the part and launches into each poem with authority and command, piecing together universal themes of love, anger and passion with impressive pace and fluidity.

It is, however, all a little awkward. Mellor is a gifted wordsmith but poems about page 3 models and emoticons lack credibility and adds a cringing element to a show that is desperately wanting to be more. This sense of dilution leads to a feeling of uncertainty as to what the show is. It is particularly confusing because what this show really wants to be is a political commentary on the current coalition government. Mellor is itching to release his frustration against the right-wing media, casual sexism and a disinterested prime minister but is completely confined by an annoyingly redundant theme of the body, which is never particularly dealt with anyway. 

His zeal and anger is misdirected and instead, we are left with an empty gimmick, filled with generic, outmoded critique and pretension.