SUBURBAN TRIBE Until 23 Feb 2014 Review by Jamie Wright In this one-woman show, Kate Mura performs the members of the titular ‘tribe’ – the primary character an elderly Polish woman, complete with babushka – and tells the stories of that woman’s friends and family in their suburban New York community and the aftermath of a tragedy. The multiple characters are achieved through a range of three-quarter Commedia dell’arte-style masks, costume changes, physicality and voice; there are also some mimed sections and some singing. Mura is a talented performer, and her characterisations are excellent; she switches between them throughout to great effect. The story itself is both touching and laugh-out-loud funny; there are hilarious anecdotes and moments of real drama. However, there are occasions where it’s somewhat difficult to follow, particularly in those with no dialogue – but it’s still interesting to watch because of Mura’s captivating style. This is performance storytelling at close to its simplest form. Energetic, funny and genuinely touching. Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)