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MOST POPULAR LINKS... FRONT PAGE... MONTHLY DRINKS NIGHT
Ealing Live!
Verdict: Fabulous character comedy
London - Ealing Studios - Feb/Apr 03
Thursdays - last day 24 April 03. Ealing Studios, Ealing Green, W5 5EP, tel 020 8567 6655
Genial host (though he's seen better days) George Green (Simon Farnaby) welcomes us to a couple of hours of inspired character comedy.
In sports jacket, V-necked pullover, grey flannels, brown shoes and check tie, George Green marks a nadir of fashion but then, as he confides, it's not bad for a man living across Ealing Common in a Hillman Hunter.
Kowalski and Penchanski (Hopkins & Glover) are on, camp cop and prisoner respectively. It's an interrogation to the words of Peter Piper picked a pepper, Mary sells sea shells at the sea shore, at breakneck speed.
Ed Wellesley-Smith (Ben Willbond)'s a public-school merchant banker (in both senses) doing stand-up for a laugh ('Ever been in combat? I have. Paintballing'), killing time before going back to 'Albarony's' in Fulham ('You probably know it as All Bar One, ya').
Experienced darts player Alan Pike (Steve Oram) strolls onstage in Esso-emblemed red shirt open to the waist, gold necklace, glasses, patterned grey trousers and grey shoes, with a breast-pocket full of biros (standing in for darts). It's a meandering homily on life, and his wife's sprouts, as related to darts.
Brucie Lee (Adam Longworth), founder of the legendary 1980s Club Sucky Fucky Hong Kong is here to promote his new Plenty Noodle Knightsbridge restaurant with a high-kicking karaoke version of the memorable 'Tainted Love'.
Fabrice de Connard (John Hopkins) mounts the stage and potentially all the women in the audience ('You have a beautiful smile, especially with those tits'), wooing them with a combination of filthy photographs, discreet suggestion ('If you like, I take you in the back. I mean in the arse. In France, it is normal'), and delicate song.
There's a short break.
A lively Drug Addict (Tom Meeten)'s on stage, dancing maniacally to Boris Gardiner's Elizabethan Reggae. He's caught in the act by host George Green (Simon Farnaby), who restores order and a sense of retro decorum.
Edwin Griffiths and Maurice Smythe (Dan Tetsell & Danny Robins) prepare a psychic experiment. Edwin's Welsh and a ghost-hunting Paranormal Investigator. With trilby, grey suit, waistcoat and watch-chain, he cuts an Edwardian figure. Maurice - altogether camper, in bouffant blonde wig and pink shirt - is a medium without a message. At least, not the one he expects as the hapless duo try to raise the ghost of dead child star Eliza Greenback. Eliza's more interested in raising a pint of Stella.
Bruce de Vivier (Steve Oram) prepares to deliver 'A few words about funding the British Film Industry', but it's doomed, due to his panic and chronic shortness of breath. Vlad (Tom Meeten) from Russia performs 'Actor' ('My face is a mirror') in stunning transparent costume and jock strap, and 'The Fall of The Berlin Wall', with Bruce as The Wall.
Chief (Ben Willbond)'s on in pinstripe suit and fetching eye-patch. Supremo of MI5, in the mould of Ian Fleming, he's developed a shocking plan to insert nuclear devices into boy bands.
Porto Stokes (Tom Meeten) appears, red shirt, red trousers (open), sandals, and little voice. It's a sad tale of oppression (by unseen manager Dean) among supermarket staff, and Porto's just about to blow ...
Gorgeous Sue Cheroux (Susan Earl)'s back from working on a cruise. She's in glittery ball-gown slashed to the thigh (and slashed in price - £12.99, ladies, Sue confides). She's having an affair with Mike (off stage) - 'Drink in one hand, my arse in the other' - who guides her career - 'Shut the fuck up and get on with the song'. It's a gifted version of Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight', with Cheroux's adroit commentary.
Carl and Carl (Hopkins and Glover) are delighted they've got UK right of abode - 'We're a couple of Australian homosexuals' - and are looking forward to unlimited public school boys. Anal euphemisms are explored, in word - and song (the sensitive 'I'm a Poofter').
Wingnut (Oram and Meeten) conclude the evening with their new rock opera The Faded Hand. It's the moving and intergalactic story of Captain Plumber (Steve Oram), and Simple Earthling XBoy (Tom Meeten) on the Planet Africa.
Ealing Live!'s an inspired evening of character comedy, by a remarkable cast (which varies week to week). Simon Farnaby (as George Green) is a superbly gifted host, excellent on warm-up and recharging the mood between acts. He's a fine performer, wrapping the night into an entity with his skilful creation of a warm and endearing character.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Susan Earl (Sue Cheroux), Simon Farnaby (George Green), Richard Glover (Penchanski, Carl), John Hopkins (Kowalski, Fabrice de Connard, Carl), Adam Longworth (Brucie Lee), Tom Meeten (Drug addict dancer, Vlad, Wingnut Simple Earthling XBoy), Steve Oram (Alan Pike, Bruce de Vivier, Wingnut Captain Plumber), Danny Robins (Maurice Smythe), Dan Tetsell (Edwin Griffiths), Ben Willbond (Ed Wellesley-Smith, Chief).
Ealing Studio Credits: Rob Moore, Head of Comedy. Jamie Minoprio - Ealing Live! Producer. Paul King - Ealing Live! Director and Technical.
END
John Park
reviewed 10 April 03 / Ealing Studios
artists' web sites include:
Dan Tetsell & Danny Robins
(c) Fringe Report 2003
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2010
