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NEWSREVUE
Verdict: Current affairs sketch comedy
London - Canal Café Theatre
Run of 13 March - 13 April 03 (new weekly run starts Thursday 17 April)
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.
The present cast are (alpha order)
Chandrika Chevli, Andrew Fleming,
Christopher Hale, and Claire Morrissey.
Musical Director
Sam Fluskey. Director Julian Caddy.
Sam Fluskey's excellent piano underlines a fine sketch
(Oscar Night / Razzle Dazzle) sung by Chandrika Chevli
and Claire Morrissey - who
both together and separately have gifted voices.
It's a lethal parody of the Oscars amid the
American invasion of Iraq. Chevli is Catherine Zeta
Jones, Morrissey is Nicole Kidman. Writers -
Ben Pheazey and Chandrika Chevli.
Christopher Hale provides a flawless parody of
American President Bush in a series of sketches. He's
an authentic John Prescott too, mangling English to
perfection. Andrew
Fleming unnervingly seems to become British Prime
Minister Blair. Here's a Blair stripped to his components - defensive, transparent, snivelling, shifty. Together, too, Andrew Fleming & Christopher Hale create a superb double-act as the inter-species lovers, man and dog, their lead stretched across the Atlantic like an axis of terrier.
The run coincides with the American attack on Iraq (20 March 03). With the horror of this, and the shortage of other news, the range of sketches is limited - but there are some gems.
There's a great gag from writer Christopher Hale
as Welsh Assembly, um, Member, Ron Davies is arrested on badger patrol.
Chandrika Chevli writes, (and with the rest of the cast performs and sings)
the hilarious 'Hooray For Holy War' - with fine accompaniment from Sam Fluskey on piano.
Writer Rupert Keenlyside provides a sharp, funny and topical sketch about the selection of a new US Ambassador to Paris (actors - Chandrika Chevli, Claire Morrissey, Christopher Hale; voice over
Andrew Fleming).
Highlight of this run is writers Mike and Tanya Tier's stunning sketch on the crisis in Palestine - 'Occupied Territories TV'. Chandrika Chevli
and Claire Morrissey play Palestinian TV presenters. In a parody of Antiques Roadshow, they value Israeli shell-cases - 'These could go through the roof.
This one did' - and unused UN Resolutions - 'Completely worthless'.
Writers credited during this run of NewsRevue
include (alpha order) - Geoff Aymer, Matt Bates,
Martin Baum,
Marc Blakewill, Chris Bryant, Julian Caddy,
Julian Caddy, The Cast, Chandrika Chevli,
Noel Christopher, John Cowen, Dan Davies,
Andy Fleming, Christopher Hale, James Harris,
Tracy Ingham, Paul Jones, Rupert Keenlyside,
James Lamont, Josie Melia, Terry Franks Newman,
Simon Ounsworth, Ben Pheazey, John Random,
Jason Smart, Mike Tier, Tanya Tier,
Jake Wilson, Ron Winkworth.
Technical Manager - creative lighting and sound
by Jacob Wiltshire. Box Office -
Louis Brownhill and Josh.
Producer - Emma Taylor.
END
John Park
reviewed from shows seen 21 March and 3 April 03 / Canal
Café Theatre
Producer Emma
Taylor tells us that NewsRevue welcomes new
writers - contact her on 020 7289 6056 or email
mail@newsrevue.com.
(c) Fringe Report 2003
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2009
