Peter Capaldi gets that Syncing feeling

Peter Capaldi in That Syncing Feeling Photo: Endor Productions

Peter Capaldi is wonderful as the everyman stuck in a lonely life. Temporarily unable to hear clearly when his ears fill with water in the shower, his deafness alienates him from society further still.

The glugging sounds every time he moves his head are familiar, as are his attempts to get rid of the water using a range of unsuitable instruments.

Also painfully familiar is his depressing job in a fast-food chicken joint, complete with motivational leaders and ridiculous chicken hats.

The sadness of Syncing is that our man must suffer his experience alone, waking up every morning in a bland hotel room, only a photograph of his lovely wife for comfort. Happiness comes when he is asleep dreaming of her – the only place where everything is in sync.

The bitter-sweet comedy of the piece comes from the audio shenanigans his ear problem plays on him.  First everything has the wrong sound: a drill as he turns on the tap, bullets firing when he does up his shirt buttons.

The only sound that cuts through the confusion is the crystal-clear song of a beautiful blind woman busking in a shopping centre. But her haunting melody offers little consolation.

Finally the madness reaches its apex as sound and action slip out of sync: the ultimate estrangement.

We end back at the man’s cold, empty house as he stares at a photo of his wife. Drifting into a dream he kisses her in the glow of the Christmas lights and we are touched by the warmth of his love.

Watch Syncing here.