The Life Doctor

One would think that the plethora of exploitative and emotionally manipulative 'life-guru' shows currently clogging up our screens (see Channel 4s Virgin School, or Wife Swap) would provide prime fodder for the adept satirist. Unfortunately, The Life Doctor proves that in the hands of less skilled writers, a play about reality TV can be almost as difficult to watch as reality TV itself.

 This inconsistent show sees smarmy TV host, "The Life Doctor", take on three "hopeless cases" looking to improve their lives. During its first twenty minutes the show just about holds together, garnering some good laughs from the protagonist's wildly insensitive treatment of a shy young man, unlucky in love. However, its theatrical blueprint soon wears thin, as with each new guest, The Life Doctor re-tells the same joke, each time with less wit and conviction.

Ironically, the most successful moments of The Life Doctor occur off-stage, through a series of pre-recorded commercial breaks. It is during these filmed intervals that the show approaches genuine inspiration as the writers successfully lampoon histrionic cologne advertisements and Apple's interminable stream of new "iProducts".

Additionally, The Life Doctor must be applauded for its inventive and frequently surprising use of scene changes. Unfortunately though, The Life Doctor's commendable qualities are blighted by a combination of clumsy script writing and unconvincing comedic acting. The Life Doctor is not without merit, but occasional instances of wit and ingenuity are not enough to remedy and laboured and inconsistent whole.