Tag Archives: Recommended Show

THE GLORIOUS FRENCH REVOLUTION

★★★★

New Diorama Theatre

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THE GLORIOUS FRENCH REVOLUTION at the New Diorama Theatre

★★★★

“The chaos is cut with emotion, and it’s carefully and cleverly structured”

YesYesNoNo are one of the hottest new theatre companies on the current London scene. Following a sell-out run of Nation at the Edinburgh Fringe, which he wrote and performed, Sam Ward’s latest offering is a chaotically absurd retelling of the French Revolution with pool noodles and bouncy castles.

There are five things this audience need to know about the French Revolution. Some are factual, some funny and some furious.

We begin in pre-revolutionary France. Inequality is rife, as demonstrated by peasants being thwacked by a pool noodle. This is a play that seethes under a jovial surface.

As the historical events develop, so too does the madness unravel. A bouncy castle, a performer on a treadmill, sports commentary of a protest, and a lot of wigs. Each performer multi-roles with cardboard signs announcing their character, none of whom are named. It’s pure Brecht. Thus, unsurprisingly, the silliness masks an anger and a serious message.

Here lies the uncertainty of the play. The anger is clear, and the parallels between modern day Britain and pre-revolutionary France, gloomily obvious. House prices are soaring, and as the rich get richer, the poor struggle for food. There is very little acknowledgement of the modern day, allowing the audience to join the dots themselves. But in doing that, the message becomes murkier, some aspects obvious, some obtuse. The ending makes the point of the allegory clearer, but feels disjointed, both in tone and meaning.

As a retelling of the French Revolution, it is sparky and punchy, if a little simplistic. As a modern-day commentary, it’s a little uncertain. It becomes a general comment on inequality and struggle, leaving the final visual moment, while striking, a little empty.

The show was devised by Sam Ward and the cast. There are some beautiful textual moments, some which have Ward’s signature flowing style. The chaos is cut with emotion, and it’s carefully and cleverly structured.

Joe Boylan is sublime, leaping over the vaulting horse, trudging on the treadmill and creating a balletic and pathetic image of the King. He also delivers the two most powerful and memorable monologues, striking an emotional resonance which is desperately needed. Jessica Enemokwu, Sha Dessi, and Alice Keedwell create delightful caricatures and bring energy and silliness to the stage. Paul Brendan deftly switches from the enthusiastic sweary washerwoman to the patronising idealistic bourgeoise, bringing each to life with joy and complexity.

Hazel Low’s set conjures an instant smile. With a shiny red floor, horse vault and an umpire chair, it is reminiscent of a school gymnasium. The childlike playfulness is brought to the fore. But the set also manages to encompass darker themes, and in combination with Han Sayle’s lighting design and Tom Foskett-Barnes’ sound there are moments of pure carnage.

This show has flashes of genius but based on YesYesNoNo’s previous work I couldn’t help expecting more from this play. It could’ve gone further, delving deeper into the messaging, and the payoff didn’t feel strong enough. As a devised piece it may evolve into something more complex as time goes on. But it’s an electric production, with some visual delights.


THE GLORIOUS FRENCH REVOLUTION at the New Diorama Theatre

Reviewed on 18th November 2024

by Auriol Reddaway

Photography by Alex Brenner

 

 


 

 

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

KING TROLL (THE FAWN) | ★★★★★ | October 2024
BRENDA’S GOT A BABY | ★★★ | November 2023
AFTER THE ACT | ★★★★★ | March 2023
PROJECT DICTATOR | ★★½ | April 2022

THE GLORIOUS FRENCH REVOLUTION

THE GLORIOUS FRENCH REVOLUTION

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GWYNETH GOES SKIING

★★★★

UK Tour

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GWYNETH GOES SKIING at Live Theatre

★★★★

“a masterfully silly and creative show”

‘Gwyneth Goes Skiing’ by Linus Karp and Joseph Martin is an inviting, fun, and creative dive into the oddities of a 2023 court case between actress Gwyneth Paltrow and optician…I mean, optometrist Terry Sanderson over a ski collision in Utah. Chock-full of g-winning puns and musical numbers, and a strong cast and crew, it is easy to see why Awkward Productions bring in a crowd.

An audience interactive heavy show, this whirlwind of celebrity nonsense and oddity will hurtle you onto uncertain slopes and chaotic courtrooms and have you bracing for impact. From hurling snowballs at actors to participating in a very crucial jury vote, you are brought into this very unpredictable world from the get-go. Part of the key charm of the show is the willingness to include the audience every step of the way, on and off-stage! The production team excel in casting such a keen team of audience members pre-show to aid Martin and Karp in achieving such hilariously uncomfortable moments throughout. Any technical hitches or audience hesitancy are dealt with deftly by Martin and Karp as they portray both of their uniquely peculiar characters. Both nail the stylised physicality and voice of their characters and match each other’s awkwardness nicely.

Karp and Martin light up the stage with their enthusiasm and comedic timing- eloquently telling such a ludicrous story in an engaging and accessible way. Rocking up to this show with little to no Paltrow proficiency is beyond fine, as exposition and characterisation tell you pretty much all you need to know. It is a shame that some of the more “online” humour don’t always pack a punch. Lots of references feel either a patch outdated or a tad too specific for some of the audience to catch on, mean some jokes feel somewhat too on the nose. A few moments stagnate with dramatic tension and drawn-out punchlines, particularly towards the end of the show, however, this is not to detract from the raucous laughter the team garner from the audience at every stage of Paltrow’s turbulent tale of skiing and scam beauty care products.

Ciara Pidgeon’s dead-pan stage management is another excellent facet to ‘Gwyneth Goes Skiing’. As props and set inventively build the silliness and spontaneity of the performance, Pidgeon’s timing, facial expressions, and execution are marvellous. Recurring gags are paid off even more so by the creative set and prop use; a particular highlight is the portrayal of Paltrow’s daughter, Apple. The audio-visual elements of the show equally keep the show chugging along nicely, with guest appearances from the likes of Trixie Matel, and inspiring graphic design by Alice Gorman. Often laughs are picked up from simply hilarious audio-visuals or sound design (by Roly Botha). Leland’s musical numbers are also a brilliant aspect of the night. Whilst the songs at times get a little bit repetitive, they are catchy and brimming of tight comedy.

Awkward Productions ‘Gwyneth Goes Skiing’ is a masterfully silly and creative show that will put you in the right mood before, during and after the show. If you’re looking for a warm, welcome and camp night of theatre, and don’t mind a light-hearted bit of millennial humour, this might be the show for you.


GWYNETH GOES SKIING at Live Theatre then UK tour continues

Reviewed on 13th November 2024

by Molly Knox

Photography by Jonny Ruff

 

 


 

 

 

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

ST MAUD | ★★★ | October 2024

GWYNETH GOES SKIING

GWYNETH GOES SKIING

Click here to see our Recommended Shows page