The Emporium Theatre: Entertaining Mr Sloane

The Emporium Theatre brings you a celebration of the 40^th anniversary of Joe Orton’s work, ‘Entertaining Mr Sloane’, a tale of young and old, manipulation and murder.

Beyond the wardrobe in the back of the spacious Emporium lies an amazing set, with its well thought out angles embracing the audience in 1960s interior horror. Truly memorable, the set provides the cast with a perfect stage to entertain.

Mike Goodenough is more than good enough as he gives the star performance of this piece. Rory McCullem also gives a fantastic performance and leaves the audience with a deep sense of sadness at the way society marginalises the elderly. Duncan Drury playing the eponymous protagonist flashes the dangerous shining sneer of Mr Sloane well, however fails to provide a balance that conveys the impression of a skilful manipulator.

Whilst there were great individual performances there was a cohesion lacking in the cast’s interaction. Due to the outlandish nature of the work this is an essential element which plays the vital role of maintaining audience engagement. Without it, there is the risk that the audience will deem the whole piece as too far-fetched and switch off.  

An admirable attempt at a difficult piece, which performed in front of the prudish audiences of the 1960s would be cracking, but in front of the unshockable audiences of modern Brighton, more is required of the cast to bring the piece alive. Once the cast members find their stride and comfortably cement the gaps, this production will definitely be worth a look.

4/5 - The Emporium Theatre - Get down to this theatre. A big, shiny jewel in the crown of London Road.

  

Take Away Theatre Company: A Dash Through Dickens

An educational theatre piece that evokes school nostalgia in adults, whilst entertaining and enlightening young ones. From schools to food, The Pickwick Papers to the The Mystery of Edwin Drood, nothing is left out on this exciting journey through an hour so stuffed with fun and facts about Charles Dickens and Victorian Britain that heads are left spinning.

Whilst highly informative this production needs to acknowledge the message that ‘less is more’. This was not a dash, but rather a full on sprint through the life and works of one of Britain’s indisputable literary geniuses. With a trimmed content and a slower pace this is a winner.

There can never be enough educational theatre in this country. It plays a vital role in laying down the foundations of love and appreciation for history, literature and the arts within young people and I applaud any theatre company that does it with the passion and enthusiasm that the Take Away Theatre Company does.

2.5/ 5

Comedy: Guilt and Shame: Going Straight

If the sight of blue robe clad Bisset-Smith welcoming you in a chillingly voice and asking that you don a blue surgical cap doesn't worry you at the opening of this delightfully flamboyant production, then the huge poster of Jeremy Clarkson posing as God will.

"Depraved comedy duo" Rob Cawsey and Gabriel Bisset-Smith tell the story of two friends who, in order to keep their friendship alive must cure Rob of his homosexuality via the means of the church of Clarkson. That this is an actual 'thing' in parts of the world, doesn't make this show as 'preachy' as you might think. They make an earnest point in what is arguably a very poignant and yet very funny way.

Uncomfortable? Yes. Crude? At times. The thing about this cleverly put together piece is its deceptively subtle writing. The journey that Guilt and Shame takes you on is more than the surface level filth and depravity with a bit of camp dancing thrown in for good measure.  Rapping dwarves, Elton John references and a happy ending with an 'aww factor' left the audience feeling good and yet somehow questioning their own attitudes.

Cawsey and Bisset-Smith have an impressive catalogue of writing and performing between them. Whilst Guilt and Shame may veer to the experimental side of comedy, it's well thought out and makes for a good hour of Fringe entertainment.

It's not for those who are easily offended, shocked, or who find the image of Jeremy Clarkson physically repellent. If none of the above apply then you should definitely go and see Guilt and Shame.

3/5 - Brilliantly fringe.

You can see what they are up to on www.guiltandshame.co.uk and they will be performing at the Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe. 

Hear the full Brighton Moon show here
http://www.mixcloud.com/Brightonmoon/a-dash-through-divine-comedy/

Comedy: Mixed Doubles

A sketch show at the fringe is a risky affair. One runs the risks of sitting through an hour of self indulgent in-jokes that a bunch of drama students find funny, or observing a group that have tried, and failed to have a stab at the humour beloved of Noel Fielding and the Mighty Boosh.

It was a sheer delight to stumble across award-winning comedy quartet ‘Mixed Doubles’ and a slick, polished show, decked out with 43 (yes, 43. Count 'em)  sketches, worthy of the laughter you might find from fans of the short lived but popular tv series 'Big Train'.

The Mixed Doubles team have hit upon a wonderfully simple brand of humour that had the audience from the word ‘go’. Playing out surrealist comedy, visual gags and running jokes with an unapologetic honesty, time flew by. With running gags featuring that loveable whistleblower (or traitor, you decide) Julian Assange, less than charismatic Andy Murray and an array of short and long sketches all equally hysterical make this group one to watch out for.

Soon to be heard on Radio 4 and already compiling video shorts of their work, it will no doubt be a short time before Mixed Doubles will be appealing to a much wider audience. And deservedly so.

If you like your comedy experimental and a bit dark then these guys probably aren't for you. If you like quick witted off the bat humour then they are definitely worth a look

5/5 - See some of their work and find their next gig here:

http://www.mixed-doubles.co.uk

Hear the full Brighton Moon show here:
http://www.mixcloud.com/Brightonmoon/a-dash-through-divine-comedy/

Theatre: Magnificent Bastards Productions: Shit-faced Shakespeare

It's hard to know where to start with a show which is going to be different each performance you see. What is undeniable is that Magnificent Bastard Productions have come up with a winning formula. Take a well known Shakespeare play, some professional actors, and get one of them drunk. It's a gimmick, yes, but it's a gimmick that sells, fascinates and entertains in equal measures.

A compère greets the audience in a fashion that Bill Shakespeare would be proud of and explains the premise of the show. Of course, most of the audience already know, but this serves to make them feel like they are all in on the joke. What follows is an unpredictable, chaotic series of events as old ideas meet new ones as one actor is given, not only an inordinate amount of alcohol, but carte blanche to do what they like on the stage.

Whilst there you can enjoy some impressive Shakespearian ad-libbing and some stellar performances from those cast members who are not inebriated, but the gag of a drunk cast member runs the risk of getting quite old quite quickly. The Shit-faced Shakespeare crew have thought of this and the audience is given the opportunity to make the cast member drink more if they feel the action is not to their liking.

It's brilliantly executed. Some might say too well executed as it raises the questions of where the real risk lies. However, you only need to look at people who have tried and failed to copy or steal this idea to see how hard Magnificent Bastards have worked on this to keep this as entertaining, and yet, as safe as it can be.

The text is heavily and cleverly abridged, which may make it hard to follow if you don't know the play. This seemed not to bother most of the audience who entered into the spirit of the play, pints in hands and smiles on faces. One thing you can guarantee is a highly entertaining and unpredictable evening.

3.5/5 - Bring your friends and make a night of it

Look out for them at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and check out what they are up to on www.magnificentbastard.co.uk


Hear the full Brighton Moon show here:
http://www.mixcloud.com/Brightonmoon/a-dash-through-divine-comedy/