“Moments of madness revealing hidden hillbilly humour”
Out There on Fried Meat Ridge Road written by (and starring) Keith Stevenson, was first produced in California around four years ago. Since then it has developed something of a cult status and spawned two sequels, A Fried Meat Christmas and The Unfryable Meatness of Being with a fourth installment due.
The play focuses on JD (Keith Stevenson), a curious character with a big heart. JD lives in a sleazy run down motel in West Virginia; spending his time drinking Mountain Dew with vodka whilst helping out with odd jobs in lieu of paying rent (such as retrieving a sanitary towel from an 87 year old lady’s toilet).
The White Bear Theatre is transformed into JD’s insalubrious room. This is captured perfectly, right down to the dubious stains on the carpet. With the theatre layout as it is, the audience are seated as if they were in the room, which brings you nicely into the action.
Knocking at his door, JD finds Mitch (Robert Moloney), a sweaty palmed, out of work spork salesman in search of a room. The motel’s bigoted owner Flip (Michael Wade) soon drops in as do crazy fellow resident couple Tommy and Marlene (Dan Hildebrand & Melanie Gray).
What ensues is an hour of mayhem involving tuna fish sandwiches, a 500 pound (unseen) lady friend of Mitch inadvertently causing the razing of a gazebo, a police shoot out and an apparent miracle.
The roles of JD and Mitch are well acted, with Melanie Gray giving a scarily realistic performance as troubled addict, Marlene.
It’s easy to see why there is a cult following behind this. The characters are mainly likeable and the humour is bold and brash. However, for such a short play, there seemed to be too many characters to get to know any of them in real depth. The character Tommy seemed unconvincing at best and Flip could have been dispensed with completely.
There are some clever lines, with moments of madness revealing hidden hillbilly humour, but it’s not a massive laugh out loud piece. It does pick up in the last twenty minutes or so when the laughs get more and more and the action more watchable.
Pleasant enough to spend an hour watching but doesn’t engage enough to make you want to see more. It does however, have possibly the weirdest play title ever!
Photography – Gavin Watson
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the 10th annual London 50 Hour Improvathon at Wilton’s Music Hall
Inspired by a collision between the worlds of “Game of Thrones”, “Lord of the Rings”, “The Hobbit” and “Harry Potter” – Come for 1 episode, or a few, or join the party and stay for the whole thing!
Friday 20 to Sunday 22 January
Runs for 50 hours
each episode starting every 2 hours
7.00pm Friday 20 January, then 9.00pm, 11.00pm, 1.00am etc., to 9pm Sunday 22 January
There will be live music throughout the Improvathon and an all night bar!
The cream of the improv crop will descend on Wilton’s Music Hall for a four-night festival as 2016 Olivier Award winners, The Showstoppers, in association with Extempore Theatre & Something for the Weekend present The 2017 London Jam (Monday 16 – Thursday 19 January), culminating in LORD OF THRONES – the 10th anniversary London 50-Hour Improvathon.
Boasting a stellar line-up of home-grown spontaneous talent from Mischief TheatreOlivier-Award winning creators of The Play That Goes Wrong; Chortle Award-winning Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel, The Glenda J Collective and members of The Showstoppers themselves, plus Canadian legends The Sufferettes, Oslo’s Almost Ibsen and the UK premiere of The Dungeons & Dragons Show. Also featuring the all-new Ken Campbell Caper Competition – a day-long ‘improv-battle’ starring improvisers from around the globe, originally conceived by legendary theatre maverick Ken Campbell. With two shows each evening (and three on the Wednesday!), this is an uproarious season, perfect for comedy fans and improv newbies alike.
Then it’s comedy athleticism at its nest with Lord of Thrones (Friday 20 – Sunday 22 January) – The 10th Annual 50 hour London Improvathon takes over Wilton’s Music Hall for a weekend of Tolkein meets George R.R Martin from some of the world’s funniest performers. One throne to rule them all. Fifty hours to nd it! For those wanting to enjoy a few hours of fun, audiences can buy tickets to each self-contained 2-hour ‘episode’ or for those seeking adventure, there’s the opportunity to get a festival pass, allowing you access for the full 50 hours.
Playing annually since 2008, this theatrical marathon gathers some of the funniest performers from all over the world every year to appear as guests (dropping in for a few hours) or as main characters going the whole 50 hour mind-bending sleep- defying distance.
After 30 hours without sleep, performers become too tired to censor themselves. Hilarious, unpredictable, and unlike anything else, this is theatre at its most exciting.
Come for one episode, or a few, or join the party and stay for the whole thing! There will be live music throughout the Improvathon and an all night bar!
There will also be a special ‘Family Episode’ (Sunday 11am-1pm) where the action is suitable for children.
The 2017 London Jam
Monday 16 – Thursday 19 January
Monday 16 January
7.30pm Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austin Novel (UK)
The Chortle Award winners are one of the most acclaimed improv troupes on the circuit. Performed in period costume with live musical accompaniment. Swooning guaranteed. Starring Edinburgh Comedy nominees Joseph Morpurgo and Cariad Lloyd.
Monday 16 January
9.15pm Lights! Camera! Improvise! The Improvised Movie Live On Stage – Mischief Theatre (UK)
A rare chance to catch the Olivier-Award winning team behind smash hit west end comediesThe Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Comedy About A Bank Robbery. Ever dreamed of creating your very own Hollywood motion picture? You choose the genre, the location and the title and the movie is brought to life before your very eyes while resident lm buff ‘Oscar’ can pause, rewind and fast forward scenes.
Tuesday 17 January
7.30pm The Glenda J Collective (UK)
Songs and sketches created on the spot from four superheroes of Improv: Josie Lawrence (Whose Line Is It Anyway? Comedy Store Players), Pippa Evans (Showstopper, Sunday Assembly), Ruth Bratt (Showstopper, People Just Do Nothing) and Cariad Lloyd (QI, Peep Show).
Tuesday 17 January
9.15pm Almost Ibsen (Oslo)
Det Andre Teatret from Oslo (the town where Ibsen spent most of his working life) conjure up new, one act plays based on the writings of Ibsen, his characters, themes and narrative style, combining theatre and improv, in a rare, moving and playful manner.
Wednesday 18 January
6.00pm Semi-final. The Ken Campbell Caper Competition 7.30pm Semi-final. The Ken Campbell Caper Competition 9.15pm Grand final. The Ken Campbell Caper Competition
Six teams compete in two semi- finals and a grand final to end the most entertaining group in spontaneous performance. The audience decides. A wild night of unpredictable hilarity, featuring the very best of established and emerging teams in the UK and overseas. (Teams to be announced. See website for further details).
Thursday 19 January
7.30pm The Sufferettes (Toronto)
One of the best-loved acts on the international improv scene, Toronto duo Becky Johnson and Kayla Lorette bring their unique mix of comedy and clowning to London. Winners of the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Improv Troupe 2014 and 2015.
Thursday 19 January
9.15pm The Dungeons & Dragons Show (Edmonton)
Spontaneous swords and sorcery in the UK premiere of Canadian comedian and writer Mark Meer’s geeky extravaganza. Part-game, part-adventure, all-comedy, Mark leads his intrepid team of adventurers on an off- the-cuff quest.
To keep up to date with the latest news on these and many other shows, please follow thespyinthestalls on Twitter by clicking the image below. Thanks.
WILTON’S MUSIC HALL
Wilton’s Music Hall is a gem in the heart of London and the oldest grand music hall in the world. It presents a year round programme of exceptional live music and world-class productions alongside learning and participa- tion work that engages the local community and schools. The Grade 2 Star listed building recently completed a 4 year capital project with support from Heritage Lottery Fund and numerous trusts and individuals. This project, designed by Tim Ronalds Architects recently won the RIBA London Award 2016, RIBA London Conservation Award 2016 and RIBA London Building Of The Year 2016.
Listing
Wilton’s Music Hall
1 Graces Alley London E1 8JB
Box Office
020 7702 2789
Book in person from 11am – 6pm Monday – Friday – No booking fee
