King Kong A Comedy - Review

The Vaults, London


****


A comedy by Daniel Clarkson
Directed by Owen Lewis

Brendan Murphy and Sam Donnelly

Ridiculous, slightly bizarre, but also just a little bit brilliant - this is Owen Lewis and Daniel Clarkson’s delightfully comic spin on Hollywood’s classic tale of adventure, love, wonder and, of course, bananas.

Set beneath Waterloo in The Vaults, the venue’s underground ambience feeds into the play, allowing the audience to get lost in the silliness. The character of the movie’s Carl Denham is deliciously played for wonderful parody, with Rob Crouch giving Jack Black more than a run for his money. Also bound for the ominous Skull Island are Jack Driscoll, played here by Ben Chamberlain who’s a considerably less smooth operator and hero than Adrien Brody. Chamberlain’s Driscoll is more like Eugene from Grease, only this time with a fear of everything under the sun! Sam Donnelly plays the skipper, while Brendan Murphy puts in a manic turn as Token Guy, a vital crew member and component to the plot who will most certainly not wind up dead.

The love interest has always fuelled the complex passions of King Kong and at The Vaults it's Alix Dunmore who takes on the tragic responsibilities of Anne. Dunmore does a delightful job in poking fun at the misogynistic overtones of the time, steering the hapless crew in the right direction on their doomed quest.

The show broadly follows the famed plot with just some slight tweaks that only add to the overall hilarity. It’s a short and sweet piece of comedic joy with some bananas and some clueless primates thrown in for good measure. The show even manages to tug the heartstrings, with the King Kong’s fabled climax, proving to be a surprisingly effective ending, even when staged on a micro-budget.

Be it beauty, planes or the concrete of 5th Avenue, whatever it was that killed the beast, this King Kong will leave you roaring with laughter. 

Runs until 27th August

Reviewed by Josh Kemp

Photo credit: Geraint Lewis

Potted Panto - Review

Garrick Theatre, London


****


Written by Daniel Clarkson, Jefferson Turner and Richard Hurst
Directed by Richard Hurst

Jefferson Turner and Daniel Clarkson

Potted Panto, the Olivier nominated offering from Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, the pair behind Potted Potter that was acclaimed on both sides of the pond, returns for a fourth seasonal West End run at the Garrick Theatre

As the title suggests, Clarkson and Turner bring together all that's fun in the traditional Xmas pantos currently playing up and down the land, condensing the mayhem into a fun-packed 80 minutes (plus interval).

The pair spoof classic yarns that include Jack And The Beanstalk, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, filletting the stories down to the bare bones and between them, donning a variety of costumes as they double-handedly tackle all the show's key characters. Clarkson's dumb but handsome Prince Charming makes for recurring chuckles as Turner valiantly tackles the title roles of the various tales. Memorable moments include Clarkson's take on a pantomime cow, as well as his remarkable interpretation of (both of) Cinderella's ugly sisters.

It's all bonkers and rather brilliant, as the pinpoint comic timing and moments of ridiculous slapstick have the kids (and a few of grown ups too) in the audience in hysterics. Guest reviewer Layla (5yo) thought the whole show was "really good" and couldn't stop laughing throughout - while her brother Arthur (3) was held rapt from start to finish.

All the usual panto routines are all there (oh yes they are) and with plenty of audience participation and sweets (and super soakers) being sprayed from the stage, the whole gig makes for fabulous family fun. Note that many dates over the holiday season are already sold out, so book now.

Runs until 15th January 2017

Photo credit: Geraint Lewis