Complete History of Comedy, Reduced Shakespeare Company

Excuse me while I blow the dust off my screen. 

I don't think I have ever gone so long without a blog post since I first started!  A combination of 2 of the busiest weeks at work in my annual work cycle directly followed by a temperature of 101.66F and a seriously nasty bout of suspected gastroenteritis, play week for Charley's Aunt, the in-laws visiting for the Easter weekend and a bit of bloggers block (I have had absolutely no creative inspiration at all recently, it seems to have all been diverted into areas which actually pay my bills, sorry) has meant a whole host of draft posts just sitting in my planner, filled with pictures and absolutely no end material.

Oops

I'm back now though so let's start to catch up!  The 3 week gap does mean that a few of these events happened a little while ago...sorry...this won't exactly be real time blogging for a bit, but we have to start somewhere!

As I mentioned, Charley's Aunt has now finished, so I get my evenings back.  Whoohoo!  At least for the time being.  We are actually doing The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Reduced) next, with RV in the directors chair, so, as part of his very serious 'research' (and not an excuse for a jolly to the theatre at all) he suggested we head up to the Gulbenkian to see The Reduced Shakespeare Company perform The Complete History of Comedy. 

For purely serious research purposes you understand.

So it was on the 1st March (I said there was a bit of a backlog), on a Sunday evening before the start of the working week, a large group of us dutifully filed into the Gulbenkian to take our seats and be entertained with a rip roaring stomp through comedy through the ages.

I have had the absolute pleasure of seeing The Reduced Shakespeare Company twice before, once when I was about 15 and watched them perform The Complete Works Of Shakespeare (Abridged) and once in my early twenties when I watched them perform the Bible (Abridged).

Both times I have been doubled over in my seat, completely helpless and crying with laughter, desperately clutching my stomach to try and alleviate the laughter cramps that are shooting across my abdomen.

For those of you who haven't heard of them (seriously, where have you been?!) they are the company that perform all 37 of Shakespeare's plays in 97 minutes, including Hamlet 3 times.  Once of which is backwards.  They are a three man troupe that dart in and out of roles with slick brevity, using a cap or a moustache to convey a change.  The stage was littered with roosters and scarves, caps and swords by the time they had finished in previous shows. 

Originally from California, the RSC have an impressive comedy pedigree, boasting the longest running comedy show in London, 7 stage shows, 2 television specials and numerous radio pieces that have been heard the world over.  Other tours include Western Civilisation (Abridged), Sports (Abridged), America (Abridged), Books (Abridged)....you get the idea.  If something has a long, complicated history with a huge amount of material to cover, The Reduced Shakespeare Company will roll their sleeves up and have at it with gusto.

The Complete History of Comedy took us on an irreverent ride through, well, the Complete History of Comedy.  They poked fun at the high brow and the low, from the Ancient Greeks (hello Aristophanes) to Shakespeare, chicken crossing the road jokes, Moliere, mimes and clowns, Vaudeville, Chaplin and Chekov (whom I have never thought of as funny!) as the three actors desperately search for the missing chapter on The Art of Comedy that has been lost to time.  In doing so, they take us through every chapter of the book, acting out the principles of comedy and how they have shaped the genre.  They interact with the audience, dragging audience members onto the stage and exchanging banter with people.

I think covering specific comics is one of the disadvantages of a show like this.  Comedy, and what people find funny is intensely personal.  For example, I have never found Moliere or Chekov, or even Chaplin to be funny, and unfortunately, having their plays and sketches acted out by a troop of comedians still doesn't make them funny for me.  There were parts that I did guffaw at, and the audience was definitely tickled by the show, but in comparison to their other productions, it just didn't engender the same continuously cackling reaction in me that I was expecting, and that was a shame.  The funniest joke for me involved Abraham Lincoln and the phrase 'too soon?'.

As we left, we did discuss whether they were now running out of ideas, and whether or not the same format just wasn't as fresh as it used to be.

What the Reduced Shakespeare Company are know and revered for is their impudent, breathless, quick fire routines that is choreographed to a frenetic pace that leaves you gasping for breath.  The very thing that makes us want to emulate them, and terrified about even trying to do so.  'Comedy', for me, was missing that edge, that fire and punch. 

Would I see the Reduced Shakespeare Company again?  Absolutely, in a heart beat and I would recommend that everyone tries to see them at least once.

Would I see 'Comedy' again?  I'm not sure.  I felt that, out of all the shows I have seen by the RSC, this was the weakest by far.  It was pleasant and perfectly nice, it just didn't leave tears of joy running down my cheeks like their other shows did.

 

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Peter Pan Goes Wrong!

A while ago my friends had tickets to go and see The Play That Goes Wrong by the young and vibrant comedy theatre group Mischief Theatre, first formed in 2008 by a group of graduates and students of The London Academy of Music & Art.  It is very, very rare that I regret a theatre decision but in this case I couldn't make it as I had another engagement.  From their stories about the production, I knew I had missed out on something incredibly special. 

I was right; The Play That Goes Wrong is now firmly ensconced in the West End to rave reviews and I still need to see it!  Luckily it has been extended until September 2015 so there is still time...

When the same group of friends told me that Mischief Theatre were bringing their newest production, Peter Pan Goes Wrong to the Marlowe Theatre, I knew I wasn't missing out again and Steve and I joined Claire, RV, John, Ellie, Peter and Jo for a pre-theatre curry followed by a night of riotous comedy.

The curry may have been a mistake - apparently 2 hours of side splitting laughter plus spice are not a great mix!

Photo from www.edtheatres.com

For a bunch of am drammers, The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong are the type of productions that we love to see, having us jointly laughing and cringing in our seats as so much of what is going on on the stage resonates with us.  There were moments when I had both hands over my face and was peeking out at the action on stage from between my fingers.

The idea is simple; the audience are watching a play within a play.  The actors are playing an am-dram group who are putting on an am-dram production that just goes horrifically, hysterically wrong in every conceivable way whilst they struggle through to the end.

Photo from www.edtheatres.com

I don't want to give away too many of the gags, but here are a check list of things to look out for:

Wardrobe malfunctions
Collapsing set
Never ending line loop
Accidentally switching characters and saying each others lines
Major and minor injury
Malfunctioning set
Accidental nudity
Personal relationship breakdown on stage out of character
Misbehaving facial hair and wigs
The wrong sound recordings being played
Actor substitutions mid performance
Punch ups
Stage and Tech crew appearing on stage at the wrong moments
Lighting mishaps
Flying misadventures
Out of character on stage revelations
Lovers tiffs
Electrocution
Broken bones
Wrong lines
Diva's
Unconscious actors

 

In the interval we found ourselves comparing when things have gone wrong in our own productions (like the time the trap collapsed in Hobson's Choice and I accidentally trapped Steve's fingers in the door whilst attempting to hold it closed on stage so Derek could drill it from the other side mid performance, or the line loop we managed to get into during the Wimbledon scene in Teechers, or the time we flipped a light switch on stage as a visual cue and two seconds later the lights actually went out) and the exaggerated examples in Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Nana's experiences with the dog flap, the misbehaving night lights and the line loop during a musical number).

Photo from www.edtheatres.com

From the start the audience is utterly engaged in the performance.  Crime scene tape is removed from a row of seats so that people can sit down.  The techies are running backwards and forwards across the stage arguing with each other, until one of the techies gets fed up and came and sits with us for a bit of a gossip whilst the theatre is filling up.  The host gets the whole auditorium (1200 people strong) to sing Happy Birthday to Dave only to realise afterwards that Dave was Michael and it wasn't his birthday, leaving the host to slink off muttering apologies.

Photo from www.edtheatres.com

We are treated to an introduction from the Director and his Co Assistant Director who pompously inform us that we are not watching a pantomime, we are watching something that will apparently be a lot more high brow (he used a word, I'm blowed if I can remember what it was!) and that due to a cast member illness, Michael will now be played by the oldest member of the drama troop.  Beard and all.

Photo from www.edtheatres.com

Some of the actors take on multiple roles.  As is traditional, Hook and Mr Darling are played by the same actor, Nana the Dog is also the Crocodile, John and Michael play Pirates and Tinker Bell gets to jump between so many characters her costumes get rather mixed up as she races through lightening quick changes, and doesn't quite get her dress done up in time.

One of the major reliefs for the actors must be that, if something really were to go wrong, the audience would not have the first blue clue!

Photo from www.edtheatres.com

There are mishaps and misadventures and through it all I was screaming with laughter to the point that my stomach muscles were aching and tears were running down my cheeks.  You can see the amount of work and effort that has gone into the production; every little move has to be choreographed to the last detail and the level of mutual trust between the members of the Company is incredibly high.  The result is an exquisite dance of comedy.

The revolving set was beautifully made and a masterful concept that comes into its own towards the end of the second act.  I could see the wheels in Steve's head turning at a few of the set tricks as he worked out how he could build something similar for us.  We all left commenting how we would kill to be able to be involved in something like this. 

Even the programme features a programme within a programme, with mock bio's, adverts for future up and coming productions from the Company and local advertisers shelling their wares.  It is the attention to detail that really makes Mischief Theatre stand out.

Photo from www.edtheatres.com

Despite the best efforts of the mock cast, this production does still have pantomime moments with shouts of 'He's behind you' and 'Oh no he didn't' ringing to the rafters.  The children in the theatre loves this as it meant that the pantomime format was still there and familiar to them, allowing them to get involved.  There are musical and dance numbers that the audience can get involved in, occasionally interrupted by techie mistakes as the music gets stuck on repeat or one of the actors headpieces tunes into a local radio, causing him to announce, in full vocal harmonies with the rest of the cast, that 'the traffic on the M2 is backed up to Junction 5'.  Good to know for the trip home.

Peter Pan Goes Wrong is touring the UK until July 2015 (full schedule here).  Go and see it and take everyone you know for a brilliant night of laughter.  Just remember, everything you see on the stage has probably happened to a Company for real somewhere else!

Photo from www.edtheatres.com

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The Pantaloons: History of Britain

The Pantaloons stole my banana.

 

Not only that.  They stole it, peeled it, ate it and then taunted me.  "Go write about that on your blog" was the phrase he uttered as he strutted off, leaving me banana-less.

I think I got reverse heckled.  If there even is such a thing (mental note to check with my stand up comedy friends if reverse heckling actually exists).

As I write this, I am savaging a new, fresh, delicious banana in memory of the one I lost that fateful Sunday afternoon sat on the grassy slopes near the lake at Mt Ephraim, watching a performance of The History Of Britain (in 90 minutes), that, until that point I had been giggling like a school girl at.

So, Pantaloons, you challenged me to write about your theft on my blog, to show the whole world your food stealing ways?  Challenge accepted.

To be perfectly honest, it's not really that much of a challenge.  I have written about this little touring theatre company twice before.  The problem is, they are always fresh, always energetic, always vibrant, and always just so damn funny.

It's infuriating really; you just can't stay angry at them.  It's like trying to stay angry at a puppy that's pooped in your slipper and then gazes at you imploring (and disingenuously) with limpid eyes- it's not possible.  Especially when they offer the chance for a pre-show selfie.

I dragged Steve along to see them for the first time, and along with RV and Claire, Ellie and John, we set up an impromptu picnic on the field.

We managed picnic blankets and one chair that the boys fought over (Steve won - to be fair, it was his chair).   Other groups managed to appear far more stylish with mutliple chairs, tables (and a tablecloth - check out the far left group below) and even glasswear for champagne.  Show-off's.

Once settled, we prepared ourselves for a whistlestop tour through the entire History of Britain.  The Pantaloons launched a survey back in 2013 to see what type of shows their loyal band of followers would like to see performed, and this was the title that was voted most popular by a country mile (sidetracked thought, are country miles longer than city miles?  Is it just that the tractor in front of you the entire way and the smell of chicken manure makes it feel longer?)

Back on track.  This then presented The Pantaloons with a bit of a dilemma, well, more of a challenge really.  It's all well and good having a title that appeals to the masses, but you can't run for 90 minutes on just a title - people are liable to get bored.  You need a show there as well.  Trouble is, unlike their previous works which have all been adapted from pre-existing bodies of works (literary classics like Sherlock and Grimm, well known plays like Dream) this didn't really have a text already handily lying there screaming for use.  Unless you count people's A-Level History books.

There's another dilemma as well.   History is all a bit dry really - a series of dates and battles and kings and queens in slow succession.  The Pantaloons needed to get to the humanity behind the history, the stories and tales that have since become folklore and legend, nursery rhymes and parables.

Well, they succeeded, and we were treated to A History of Britain that told the stories behind the facts, that paid respect to the tragedy that plagued our emerald isle and mocked the stupidity in peoples actions (a crown does not equate to intelligence.  I think it's the weight - it makes the brains dribble out of the ears).

As with all Pantaloons material, we were also treated to a huge variety of different styles and performance techniques, with a fair bit of ad-libbing thrown in for good measure!  This was the History of Britain like it had never been seen before - it was a bit like a cross between Blackadder and Horrible Histories meets a pantomime cabaret.

So, we started in pre-historic times, and in the space of 3 minutes had seen the discovery of fire, invasion of the Romans, invasion of the Vikings, invasion of the Normans and the fall of Henry at the Battle of Hastings.  3 minutes in and we were already at 1066.  Impressive.

We then slowed down(!) a little with a re-telling of Shakespeare's Richard III in 15 minutes, complete with a non-sword battle as Kelly (The Red Loon) had hurt her hand a couple of days previously.   I mention this as it gives you an idea of the style of The Pantaloons, when, mid yell, they both turn to the audience and explain that no actual fighting would be happening that day before launching straight back into character.

Following on from the Richard III in 15 minutes sketch, we then launched into a romantic comedy version of Henry VIII as he recounts his various marital wows to his best friend (whom he only sees to moan about the latest wife) and the revolving door of his wives as Kelly and Alex jumped nimbly through each of the various women's characters.

From the comedy of Henry VIII (it's not often you get to describe him as a comedy), we tackled the dissolution of the monastries, complete with aged, half deaf nuns before moving into a sombre puppetry show about the tragedy of Lady Jane Grey, the 9 Day Queen who had been manipulated by everyone around her, paying the price for their greed with her life at just 17 years of age.  This moving material just proved how capable this troop are as virtuoso performers and the change of pace was welcome.

From Lady Jane Grey we catapaulted into The Virgin Queen and the Spanish Armada, handled, (obviously!) as a Gilbert and Sullivan pastiche.

This whole section can only be described as right, rollocking fun, complete with songs, dance and some truly awful accents!

With the successful defeat of the Armada (woo-hoo!) it was time for a break to let The Pantaloons refuel, and the audience debate the long climb up the hill to the toilets.

When we came back, we were flung straight into Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder plot, with the old nursery rhyme being chanted softly and eerily in the background.

Remember, remember the 5th of Novemeber

Gunpowder, treason and plot

I see no reason why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot

Guy Fawkes is a strange character in British history.  Utterly villified for attempting to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I in 1605 to replace him with a Catholic king, his actions soon became an excuse for anti-Catholic activities and soon the figures that were burnt on the bonfires were no longer just effegies of Guy Fawkes, but also of other popular hate figures, such as the Pope.  Guy Fawkes is likely to be the only name that people remember of the 12 men involved in the plot, despite the fact that he wasn't their leader.  Nowadays, Bonfire Night is just an excuse for a big celebration and party - any real religious or political overtones have long since faded into history.  The Pantaloons handled this popular story from our past in an incredibly creepy way, masking Guy Fawkes into an anonymous, emotionless figure.

Moving on, we got into the English Civil War, which was re-enacted by an insult hurling match between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers (i.e.the two halves of the audience), led by audience members dragged up by The Pantaloons to represent Oliver Cromwell and King Charles I.  These audience members were put on the spot to come up with the worst possible insults they could think of, which the audience then yelled on their behalf. 

After a brief spate of more food stealing by The Pantaloons (they are terrible for it) whilst covering something to do with the wool industry (I'll be honest - I can't remember what they were talking about, I was too tranfixed on the fact that more food was being pinched, and licked by Alex!)

By now we were tickling the edges of what could be called modern history (i.e the last 300 years or so).  We started to look at the creation and expansion of the British Empire (which saw a lot of sea travel - guess how that was represented!)

Followed by the Crimean War and Florence Nightingale, the Lady With The Lamp.

We were starting to get closer to a period of history that I was quite intrigued to see how they would cover, but before then we got the Victorian Era in the style of an old Music Hall show, compared by Queen Vic herself.  She was not amused.   There was also The Suffragettes and the battle for floats for swimming.  I'm sure someone, somewhere missed the memo about that particular campaign.  All the girls in the audience did get a running Hi Five from the 'Loons though during that particular sketch.  Charles Darwin even made a brief cameo appearance!

We neared the end of the show as the 'Loons tackled a particularly difficult and sensitive subject; that of World War I.  They really surprised me on this by reciting and contrasting poems of the era that called the men to arms and service, and also described the pure horror and tragedy of that event.  It was incredibly touching and moving, and very, very effective.

After that sobering subject, we needed a bit of lift and finished the performance in pure Pantaloons style, with a sing and a dance!

As always, an afternoon of pure, unadulterated pleasure courtesy of this ingenious troop.  Please, please go and check out this company and see if they are performing near you - if they are, go and see them.

Kelly, Edward, Alex and Chris, it's been a pleasure as always

I'll even forgive you for that banana.

If you like (or hate!) what you have read, please do let me know in the comments below or slap me with a cheeky follow, or say Hi to me on my Facebook group or Twitter or Instagram!