In The Package It Came In, U.K. trio The Awkwards takes the audience on an interactive comic romp through the lighter side of recycling. Right off the top the concept is refreshing: it’s not a play but an information session.

As the story goes, fictional British supermarket chain United is slated to open stores in Canada, so to reassure its new consumers United has organized a public open house to explain how the chain will act to reduce packaging waste. The panel of ‘speakers’ includes United spokeswoman Annie Upsom,
lugubrious British talk-show host Jeremy Hoeg and hopelessly dishevelled environment professor David Norwood.

All three are engaging, though Upsom is particularly outstanding. Together, the trio uses creates an endearingly frisky comedy that pokes gentle fun at corporations, academics and environmentalists alike. Most impressively, the performance manages to promote environmentalism without getting preachy.

Reviewer: MM
Uptown Magazine
Rating: B+