Drama
Jakal, who were responsible for Futurism, describe themselves as a "devising ensemble" - whatever that means. Their latest production, 6 Left Feet, is set in a ballroom dancing class, but don't expect anything as conventional as actual ballroom dancing.
The characters are all taken from Italian Commedia dell'Arte - whilst you might be forgiven for missing Il Capitano or Colombina, you should know Mr. Punch and Pierrot - and the plot (such as it is) revolves around their various attempts to out-strut and out-sex each other. They're all, as the director's notes put it "...looking for love, or at least sex." Isabella (Belinda Mancktelow) and Colombina (Aoife Stone), a strutting vamp and a bubblegum cheerleader (complete with pom poms), compete for the affections of Il Capitano (Timothy Allsop) and Mr. Punch (Robert Wells), using the lovelorn Pierrot as the butt of most of their attempts to provoke jealously, whilst the similarly alone Pierrette finds their antics quietly amusing. Needless to say, the two of them do eventually find each other, and it all has a happy ending.
There's a series of dreadfully telling horoscopes, a pastiche of every "sexy pose" you can think of, a ludicrous "Mine's bigger than yours!" contest between the male characters, and a pole dance. Yes, a pole dance.
This production is an absolute treat, and is a perfect advertisement for the merits of experimental theatre. With the entire set consisting of ten chairs, and the props totalling a magazine, a broomstick, and a pair of pompoms, there's nothing to distract you from the impressive strength of this ensemble. Whether you like experimental theatre, modern dance, or just a good laugh, this is for you.
Well, hats off to the Burton Taylor, who manage to be showing two brilliantly funny comedies back to back.
The basic philosophy behind the writing seems to have been that no joke, no matter how small, bad or appallingly tasteless, should be overlooked in the pursuit of laughs. So we are given the unacceptable face of liberalism, an equal ops thug who left Combat 15 because he realised he was gay, and his fellow recruit to the cause of animal rights, Alice, who introduces herself to the groups leader with the line "I was your first kiss, your first shag, your first faked orgasm." Following a When Harry met Sally moment, Jeremy can only manage a feeble, "That was faked, was it?"
The plot - again, such as it is - involves a group of pathologically stupid animal rights campaigners, a sadistically funny vivisectionist ("Ah, you've heard of me! I always have time for fans!") and a group of talking monkeys. When Dr. Waylan Grost Lovestock - see left - is kidnapped by incompetent animal rights group Quanitas, it is left to the bad Dr's lab monkeys to mount a rescue bid. Meanwhile, back in the lab the junior researchers are engrossed in the quest for the ultimate Carrie Fisher clone
If you like random acts of violence, lewd sexual innuendo, animal cruelty and scientists playing God ("Nazi's and wet nurses was funnier.") then get along to the BT.
Gilbert and Sullivan is described as comic opera, and the opera tag is fully justified. A company whose vocal talents are up to the calls of the piece is needed, and from I saw there should be no worries on that account. In a small room at Pembroke, accompanied by piano, the sound was ear splitting. In the OFS, with a fourteen piece orchestra, it should be just about perfect.
If the excellent double bill at the BT doesn't take your fancy, then this may be just right.
The only problem, as such, is there is nothing particularly special about the whole affair. This is a strong production, and is good value for money, but unless you're a big fan of Gilbert and Sullivan you may be left feeling that it needs something more to make it special.
7th Feb 2002