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NEWSREVUE
Verdict: Funny and topical news cabaret
London - Canal Café Theatre
Run of October to 24 November 02
NewsRevue parodies current affairs. It's written by a team of about 30 writers. There are four actors, a musical director (pianist) and a director who change every 6 weeks. Unlike Have I Got News For You, NewsRevue activly encourages amoral behaviour from the cast, production team, and audience.
The present cast are Catherine Bailey, Andrew Camichel, Charlotte Coates, and Nick Murphy. Musical Director Alex Silverman. Director Elanor Pearson (aka Elanor Wallis-Scott).
Sketches on this night are listed below with writer's names bold in brackets:
Barrymore's Summer Lovin' (Christopher Bryant). The late Stuart Lubbock (Camichel, fetching in water wings) and Barrymore (Murphy, looking worried), recall the night by the pool in song, chorused raucously by Bailey and Coates. Gross and funny parody of Summer Lovin'.
Heathrow Safety Announcement (Christopher Bryant). More Twin Towers fun, as Flight 911 safety drill parodies the new realities ('Revolvers: under your seats'). Witty ensemble acting.
Seaman's Quickie (Geoff Aymer). Murphy's professor tries to teach Camichel's small-brained David Seamen astro physics.
I know Halliwell (Sarah-Louise Young). Bailey as Davina McCall and Coates as Geri Halliwell battle ('She even got her baps out on tv'/'But those shots were really tasteful') magnificently in song. Sublime singing and crisp diction to Sarah-Louise-Young's fine script and arrangement.
Bush's Saudi Gift (Howard Boswell). Royal aide Coates introduces Saudi Arabia King Fahd (Murphy) and US President Bush (Camichel). The future of the Arabs, as envisaged by the Americans, is revealed. Fine characterisations by Murphy and Camichel.
Like Father Like Son (Stuart Piper). Beckham (Murphy) tries to talk with baby son Romeo (Camichel), but Romeo's (a) smarter and (b) highly Shakespearian. Murphy and Camichel manage to create two discrete characters in a very short funny sketch.
Fire-Power Men (Ron Winkworth). Poor Weed. If she'd known at birth in the 1950s how ridiculed she'd become, she'd have pulled up her little roots and died. Here Bill, Ben and Weed are grist to the comedy mill once again. Camichel is President Bush, Murphy is Prime Minister Blair, Bailey as Weed is the United Nations - you can guess the rest. It's well scripted and delivered.
Pondlife (James Harris). The cast deliver a fine piss-take of any boy-band, well choreographed and sung, to James Harris's gifted writing. Parodies Father and Son. Alex Silverman's astounding piano provides an engine to the action, as effortlessly integrated with the cast as a fifth performer.
Iraqi Farce (Mike Tier and Tanya Tier). Bailey gives a fine characterisation as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, neatly dusting his house for the UN Weapons Inspector (Murphy), with silent-movie melodrama-piano from Silverman.
Dumbed Down (Marc Blakewill and James Harris). The cast dance and sing this witty take on low-aspiration TV with the best hanging rhyme in the show ('rather whack one off to Tara / Palmer-Tomkinson'). it's a parody of Petula Clark's Downtown. Silverman's key changes are sublimely handled, with great piano melody lines.
John Leslie Part 1 (Martin Baum). John Leslie (Murphy) shags Lorraine Kelly (Bailey), while Interviewer (Coates) watches open-mouthed (which, in John Leslie's presence, may not be a good idea).
Iain Duncan Smith and Interpreter (Noel Christopher). Murphy delivers a convincing IDS, and aide Camichel explains to us what he's really saying.
The Sound of Muslims (Noel Christopher). Jacob Wiltshire (Technical Manager) provides excellent flashing coloured lights in true Palladium spirit for this reckless take on The Sound of Music. Coates and Bailey dance delightfully in veils while singing The Hills Are Alive (With The Spores of Anthrax). Murphy (Blair) and Camichel (Bush) duet on Do Re Me ('George a name I call myself, Tone my little English chum ...'). A Lonely Goatherd is presented elegantly and with poignancy by Bailey as Saddam; and 'I am 16 going on 17'. All are on for the finale Missile Strikes, (to Edelweiss). It's a cleverly constructed piece of writing, well-delivered by a fine cast.
Ulrika Poem (Tracy Ingham). Pam Ayres (Coates) recites a suitably tasteless account of Ulrika Jonsson's sexual history.
Livingstone (Alex Silverman and Nick Murphy). Ken Livingstone's transport plans for London are parodied in this take on Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise's Bring Me Laughter. Murphy as Eric and Camichel as Ernie.
Susannah and Trinny (Noel Christopher). Parody of Susannah Constantine (Coates) and Trinny Woodall (Bailey)'s fashion advice - this time for Osama Bin Laden. Coates and Bailey excel in their characterisations and deliver a very funny sketch.
Psychologically Challenged (Martin Baum). University Challenge parody. Jeremy Paxman (Camichel) chairs Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams (Bailey), Palestinian President Yassar Arafat (Coates), and Prime Minister Blair (Murphy). Blair's the butt of this round-the-world disaster quiz.
If I Were Israeli (Mike Tier and Tanya Tier). Ensemble piece in which 4 Palestinians conjecture how sweeter life might be if they were Israelis. Parodies If I Was A Rich Man.
East Sussex Astronaut V/O (Ron Winkworth). It's Cape Kennedy calling, and the Shuttle Atlantis is being delayed by Connex.
Clinton Sings (Martin Baum). Murphy as former US President Clinton sings a fellatio song.
Major Cock-Up (John Cowen). Sublime number in which Edwina Currie (Bailey) serenades John Major (Murphy). It's to the tune of David Bowie's Space Oddity. ('Can't control that Major, John'). This is the sketch that has everything: astounding characterisations (Bailey's a blinding Edwina, catching the nuances of her speech and mannerisms to perfection; Murphy becomes Major: glasses, voice, ungainly porking posture), and simulated sex.
Halloween Tory (Paul Jones). The whole cast is on for the Tory Party Conference Halloween Party prizegiving. Coates is Anne Widdecombe; Bailey in Ku Klux Klan mask is Lady Thatcher (3rd prize); Iain Duncan Smith (Murphy) gets 2nd prize as The Invisible Man; Camichel as prize-giver William Hague ('First prize to you, Anne, for the monster mask' / 'I'm not wearing a mask').
Suicide Bummer V/O (Tracy Ingham). Sensitive joke linking the Taliban to Michael Barrymore's swimming pool.
Saddam Meets Spencer (Andrew Camichel). Saddam (Bailey) encounters Frank Spencer (Camichel). Should this ever happen, the script is ready and tested. It's funny, it's well-written and presented, and if President Saddam should see it, he might well covet Frank's beret.
Yet More Archer Fun (Simon Ounsworth). Jeffrey Archer (Murphy) meets fellow prisoner Dr Harold Shipman (Camichel), escorted by a Warder (Coates). Entertaining encounter with outcome you might imagine.
Nigella Fails (Rupert Wainwright). Bailey provides a splendid Nigella, full of sex, beguilement, pout and fury, to Rupert Wainwrights breath-taking script.
Boon (Marc Blakewill and James Harris). Michael Elphick (in his TV role of motorcyclist Boon) arrives in heaven, he's played by Camichel. Murphy is St Peter. Coates and Bailey are angels. The saintly trio have excellent halo tiaras, and Boon has a crash helmet (and wings). It's a parody of Zoom! ('Just one drink and my heart went Boom!'), delightfully delivered.
Diaries (Alan Stafford). Edwina Currie (Bailey), Jeffrey Archer (Murphy), and Alan Clark (Camichel) read an interlocking dialogue from their diaries. Bailey, Murphy and Camichel provide fine characterisations.
Eternal Fire-Fighters (Christopher Bryant and Nina Lemon). The cast are on in fire-jackets, singing about their forthcoming strike. It's a neat piece of writing, parodying Eternal Flame ('Do you hear the phone ringing / as you burn to death?'). Fine piano from Silverman, complete with fire-fighters' bell.
Iraqi TV (Noel Christopher). Camichel is the presenter on Iraqui TV, breathlessly outlining the evenings's programming ('Faulty Towers / Sad's Army').
George W Bush Addresses The Nation (Marc Blakewill). Camichel's Bush addresses the nation in mangled English, which his Aide (Coates) does her best to put right.
The Kids From Lame (Simon Ounsworth). Closing piece parodies The Kids From Fame / We're Going To Live Forever. The whole cast bend and stretch, and sing Simon Ounsworth's funny lines. Excellent cohesive piano from Silverman and fine well-choreographed performances from the cast.
Writers include: Caroline Adams, Geoff Aymer, Martin Baum, Marc Blakewill, Howard Boswell, Christopher Bryant, Andrew Camichel, The Cast, Noel Christopher, John Cowen, Terry Franks-Newman, James Harris, John Hodiak, Jonny Hurst, Tracy Ingham, Paul Jones, Rupert Keenlyside, Nick Murphy, Simon Ounsworth, Stuart Piper, Alex Silverman, Alan Stafford, Mike Tier, Tanya Tier, Uncredited, Rupert Wainwright, Ron Winkworth, Sarah-Louise Young.
Elanor Pearson (aka Elanor Wallis-Scott) gives careful and focused direction to this run of NewsRevue. It's a cool, entertaining style, with superb choreography. She elicits clear diction and tight performances from the gifted cast and delivers a show that's well-paced and funny.
Technical Manager - subtle and imaginative lighting and sound by Jacob Wiltshire. Box Office - Louis Brownhill and Rebecca. Producer - Emma Taylor.
END
John Park
reviewed Thursday 31 October 02 (week 3 of current run) / Canal Café Theatre
Further information on this show - Producer Emma Taylor tells us that NewsRevue welcomes new writers - contact her on 020 7289 6056 or email mail@newsrevue.com.
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
