Tag Archives: Museum of Comedy

DR DOLITTLE KILLS A MAN (AND READS EXTRACTS FROM HIS NEW BOOK)

★★★

Museum of Comedy

DR DOLITTLE KILLS A MAN (AND READS EXTRACTS FROM HIS NEW BOOK) at the Museum of Comedy

★★★

“We’re in the land of the surreal, where nothing makes sense until it suddenly does”

His name is Dolittle, Dr John Dolittle, sweaty adventurer, animal linguist and hyper-animated Oxford don. Remember him? He was played by Eddie Murphy in the movies (which he hates).

He wants to share his secrets, read from his new book, take your questions, sell you merch, take you places and have a laugh.

Aidan Pittman performs this genial boffin (yes, we’re firmly in boffin land) and he’s good company. Likeable. Energetic. Busy. He can do quips. He can send himself up. He can fall down. He can riff with the crowd. He lives on that thin sliver of zany that is full of hysterical glee.

The compact Museum of Comedy already resembles an Anderson bomb shelter, so his surreal capers are the perfect fit – straight out of a 1940s derring-do radio show, with something of The Goons in the mix.

After the whirlwind introduction, a debrief on his tricks of the trade (so we can speak mouse), we’re off. The spine of this show – directed by co-writer Hudson Hughes – is his new book. Dolittle plucks a tale at random – some silliness involving a large ruby – and he lets his imagination run riot.

Fun back projection graphics pick out his route across the map Indiana Jones style and we get to trot the globe with our amiable guide on this tiny, tiny stage. He meets his wondrous pals, like the wise old tortoise which makes for good eating. And nasty villains, like the camp Nazi Puffin that Dolittle wants to boot like a rugby ball.

Throughout all this, Pittman carries with him a Greg Davies air of scornful surprise, as if the world can only possibly make sense on his terms.

Halfway in and he can’t stop now because he’s all fired up. He’s the kid on the school coach who drank too many Fruit Shoots, bouncing off the ceiling and endlessly distracted by shiny things. He’s the funny twerp, the galumphing buffoon.

What does it all mean though? What’s the Fountain of Evolution? Why was Charles Darwin so angry? And why is Curious George less inquisitive these days, with no interest in much except for cleaning glasses in his film noir bar?

Well, if that’s what’s bothering you – plot integrity, character growth – you’re in the wrong show, pal. We’re in the land of the surreal, where nothing makes sense until it suddenly does. And that’s the sign you’ve fully arrived in his world. It’s a happy place. Go there.

What a pure hit of giddy fun.


DR DOLITTLE KILLS A MAN (AND READS EXTRACTS FROM HIS NEW BOOK) at the Museum of Comedy

Reviewed on 11th October 2024

by Giles Broadbent

Photography by Hudson Hughes

 

 


 

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

CHRISTIAN DART: BIGGER THAN THE CHRISTMAS TURKEY | ★★★★ | June 2024
THEATRESPORTS | ★★★★ | August 2023
KATE-LOIS ELLIOTT: GENTRIF*CKED | ★★★ | August 2023
ASHLEY BARNHILL: TEXAS TITANIUM | ★★★★ | August 2023

DR DOLITTLE KILLS A MAN

DR DOLITTLE KILLS A MAN

Click here to see our Recommended Shows page

 

CHRISTIAN DART: BIGGER THAN THE CHRISTMAS TURKEY

★★★★

Museum of Comedy

CHRISTIAN DART: BIGGER THAN THE CHRISTMAS TURKEY at the Museum of Comedy

★★★★

“a polished hour of comedy”

Christian Dart was bigger than the Christmas turkey as a child, and now this larger than life character has some topics he wants to discuss. We open to a gleeful rendition of how Dart was born “bigger than the Christmas turkey”; a musical bonanza that epitomises the show; silly, sweet and entertaining. Dart fills the hour with music, jokes, and a trip down memory lane peppered with commentary on social media, token representation and Andrew Tate. Some of the social commentary is hit and miss, potentially being too tangential and forgetting to be funny, wrapped too much in its message. Much of the material takes on a Bo Burnham-esq style; slick, wordy and paced, with complicated statements rolling off sequentially at an impressive speed. The composition of the songs is high quality and witty, with references to Britney Spears and Star Wars.

Dart talks us through break ups, a highlight being his rendition of “I Really Hope Your cat Dies”, an unhinged revenge song that bathes the stage in red as the singer becomes increasingly more violent in his descriptions, verging on edgy alternative humour. The show switches gear to an Andrew Tate hate song that delves into criticism of Youtubers’ antics in a segment that feels somewhat niche to online discussions. In a delightful moment, Dart shares a sweet original children’s song he wrote for a heartbroken pupil “I’ll Send a box of Chocolates to Myself” which feels honest and enjoyable. The wide ranging selection of topics and songs add to the larger than life theme that runs through the hour, never failing to be engaging. In a unique segment we learn about Dart’s lengthy time with Stage Coach as a child, featuring a gold mine of home videos to prove the self-deprecating stories. Dart appears at home on stage, with plenty of spontaneity and adept showmanship.

The seamless integration of video and songs present a well rehearsed variety, with some segments leaving us wanting to know more; he dated someone entirely through Animal Crossing…what was that like? Instead the focus turns to queer representation in Disney films. In a climactic finish, we delve into the politics of Disney editing token scenes in various movies in a song that loses its humour somewhat, lost in a slightly confusing premise with a confusing point of view. Dart hits his stride with silly original songs about his life but gets bogged down in commentary that feels very internet focussed. Christian Dart presents a polished hour of comedy that displays an extensive variety of music and life lived; both relatable and ridiculous, the show is sure to amuse.


CHRISTIAN DART: BIGGER THAN THE CHRISTMAS TURKEY at the Museum of Comedy

Reviewed on 8th June 2024

by Jessica Potts

Photography by Johanna Dart

 

 

 

CHRISTIAN DART: BIGGER THAN THE CHRISTMAS TURKEY will also be at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe

 

 


 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

THEATRESPORTS | ★★★★ | August 2023
KATE-LOIS ELLIOTT: GENTRIF*CKED | ★★★ | August 2023
ASHLEY BARNHILL: TEXAS TITANIUM | ★★★★ | August 2023

Christian Dart

Christian Dart

Click here to see our Recommended Shows page