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drinks Monday 1 September 08 Edinburgh Reunion in London
Topping And Butch Hit Leicester Square 26-27 September 08
d4 SPECIAL
Verdict: Comedy with nude Waen
London - Diorama d4 - December 02
It's the last night of a run of d4 Specials - named after the d4 venue across Euston Road from Warren Street tube. Arnold Widdowson comperes a night of skilful character comedy, with nude help. Not Arnold, he's only reduced to his underwear by mum and his lesbian aunt.
Simon Farnaby, Tom Meeten, Steve Oram, Waen Shepherd, and Gareth Tunley provide a cast of thousands, or certainly several. Arnold Widdowson tries unsuccesfully to keep the house in order.
Gareth Tunley plays Gareth: his music idols - John Lennon, Karen Carpenter, Roy Orbison - are all dead. In black tie, he searches the papers for death related stories. Waen Shepherd's a neighbour complaining about the gig's noise. First time, he's on in dressing gown and boxer shorts - more later. Steve Oram is Mrs Kate Aviary, Tom Meeten is Mrs Kate Apiary, together they're The Birds and The Bees Operatic Review. They're Arnold Widdowson's mum and 'aunt' too (they say), and take him back to parts of his childhood he'd rather forget. Wearing pantomime-dame dresses, the aunties look divine - and sing terribly: it's quite like Covent Garden.
Gareth Tunley's Duggie Mathews - The World's First and Only Invisible Stand-Up lives excellently up to his name. Waen Shepherd's Peterford Golf Club Chairman, tin-tray head-beating Stuart Ogilvie's a comedy legend in the making. Steve Oram reads his camp character's 'Man on Man - The Autobiography of An Actor' with sparkling wit. It's set on location - mainly in the rectal area. Simon Farnaby and Gareth Tunley play flatmates doing music of the street: 'The Flat'.
Simon Farnaby as Marcus Todd, and Waen Shepherd as James Babbage, are all-too-realistic student sketch-players The Frog Squashers. Simon Farnaby (Derek) and Tom Meeten (Dave) are Derek and Dave The Builders, joined here by Steve Oram's foreman Brian: it's a hilarious take on builders, tea and adultery.
Suddenly, Waen Shepherd's back on the stairs at the back of the venue as the neighbour complaining about noise. But this time he's flashing a full meat and two veg - you could hear a penis drop.
Manic supermarket worker Porto Stokes (Tom Meeten) shows off some artwork of a similar nature. Simon Farnaby and Waen Shepherd close the night as Miami Vice tribute band Miami Spice.
d4 Special's a fine night of impish and original comedy. With luck it'll return - at d4 or somewhere else - in 03.
Compere (and fine comedy from) - Arnold Widdowson. Technical manager - Leanne Archbold. Door - Katy Darby.
END
John Park
reviewed Friday 13 December 02 / Diorama d4
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
