The Builders, a new black comedy from Line Knutzon, promised so much. From its thoughtful consideration of modern man's problem with greed to an in depth autopsy of the homeowner-contractor relationship, the play’s key themes are both relevant and poignant. Sadly, the script veered too quickly between a familiar scenario to the theme of gluttony, and eventually the absurd.

There were moments of clarity, when the audience felt a connection to the events unfolding on the stage; this was due largely to the excellent cast and production. The bare lighting and set, employing boxes to represent 'the house', aided the imaginative capabilities of the cast. Furthermore, although I'm always ambivalent towards performances done as readings, the presence of the scripts on stage was not an issue.

The actors playing the builders had developed an excellent repertoire in rehearsal. Their chemistry was as obvious as their portrayal of repugnant, crude, and lazy workers. Particularly compelling was the performance of Glen the site manager, played by Robbie Jack. His presence on the stage offered a dramatic drive that was sometimes lacking in the performances of the home-owners and their friends.

Perhaps it is the layers of characters presented in the play that is Knutzon's redeeming factor. Everyone has felt the frustration that comes with paying for a bad service, and equally the malaise of working for a boss that is both unappreciative and ignorant. The playwright and actors successfully depict a reality that affects everyone day to day; by and large the interactions were the product of thoughtful consideration of human relationships.

But the problem remains that the play is supposed to be about 'greed'; the events and conclusion were so far-fetched that at some points the show was more slapstick than black comedy. Funny though it may be, it fails to realise a widespread problem with the Western world, almost making light of it through the absurdity involved. The discourse simply does not add up.