Urban Primate is an 80-minute play at the Blue Room Studio until 24^th June 2006. It starts at 7 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 9 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

This is the story of totally introverted and lonely Malcolm (Kinsley Judd), a dedicated structural estimator who works for an arrogant, self-centred boss (Craig Edwards). However the manager is about to put his faith for the company’s future solely in technology.

Malcolm’s wife (Angelique Malcolm) has become frustrated with her husband’s shortcomings and weakness. In fact Malcolm has only three friends and they are in his imagination! Given a new challenge at work, things start to look good for Malcolm, but will his luck change?

Sally Bruce, Ben Russell and Michael Lamont play several other parts, all with clearly defined characters.

Steven Hounsome has written a fresh and interesting piece. Initially Malcolm appears to be like Michael Crawford’s character Frank Spencer, but with quality direction (by the author) and an all-round very strong cast, Malcolm is shown – despite his endeavours - to be a sad and pathetic soul.

The set is simple but effective. The lighting (Blake Granston) is excellent and helps develop the various moods of the play.

Kingsley Judd has confirmed his place as one of Perth’s leading character actors.

A mainly sensitive play, but with funny moments, very well presented.

I was a bit dazed and confused when I walked out of this play. I had just watched a mild-mannered quantity surveyor metamorphose into a screeching ape and finally a gibbering shell - all supposedly brought on by the encroachment of a software package into his comfort zone. In the process, he becomes increasingly dislocated and alienated from his work colleagues, his wife and his child. How, I asked myself, could this really be allowed to happen? Then as I strolled through the 'arts precinct', with its artificial pools and man-made terraces, I noticed a group of street people, quietly picnicking in the shadows. I wondered how long they would be able to keep it up before the long broom of the law came and swept them away - better an empty space than such a blot on the streetscape. And I reminded myself that we are all still biologically jungle beasts in an alien environment. We have a large brain, which pushes us on to work harder to make life easier, but we don't seem to know when enough is enough. Every now and then, we need to stop and reconnect with our inner monkey, before we implode! I liked this play. It made me think. I do think it would be better if it sped up a bit toward the end though. Ssstinger>>>