Kings Place Festival 2014: Joseph Morpurgo – Odessa

Character comic Joseph Morpurgo's latest solo show, 'Odessa', is another hugely innovative triumph. We open with 1980s news report footage about a chemical plant fire in Odessa, Texas. Morpurgo ingeniously brings to life the subjects of the story, as well as the stars of some dodgy Odessa TV ads, to string together a 'Twin Peaks'-style whodunit. The footage is paused on the grainy face of an eye witness or police officer, and the crafty comic takes over the character from there. He has an elegant way with words, and loves to give innocent characters a sinister 'Odessa' is an exhilarating trip into the tirelessly inventive mind of an obvious talent.