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drinks Monday 4 August 08
The Trap
Verdict: Warm wash of inspired comedy
Edinburgh - The Pleasance - August 03
It's said that Albert Chevalier (Albert Onesime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis Chevalier 1861 - 1923) was maybe the greatest music hall comedian of the 19th century.
If Albert was alive today, he'd be taking lessons from The Trap. The Trap are a remarkable bunch of gifted comedians whose references leapfrog altcom, touch down briefly in farce, make a nod to Monty Python (but it's only a gesture), wave in passing to Buster Keaton, Charles Chaplin and silent movies, and land comfortably in the music hall - days of big audiences, big laughs, and reckless comedy.
Tonight The Trap deliver 60 minutes of fast character humour, a chain of linked sketches.
Kickoff's a pure piece of farce from Dan Mersh as The Chubby Fellow. Vicar Paul Litchfield follows with the sensitive It's Been Right Up My Arse. Jeremy Limb tries a tasteful piano/vocal Summertime, destroyed by Paul Litchfield and Dan Mersh.
There's a fabulous piece of theatre comedy from Paul Litchfield, The Musical Mirror. In Goldchester Prizegiving, headmaster Dan Mersh awards prizes for Goldchester's increasingly outrageous achievements ('the school expedition to the Moon') to Simpson (Paul Litchfield). As Simpson's behaviour becomes overbearing, the Bishop of Goldchester (Jeremy Limb) is on hand to administer plant-pot correction.
In Pink Panther German Interrogation. Jeremy Limb deals with Paul Litchfield in an Aryan way, with help from Peter Sellers. Turn It Down has Dan Mersh not getting a moment's peace with Jeremy Limb's radio and Paul Litchfield's snoring. Dan Mersh's Book Reading, with noises to match his following of the text is a stunning piece of original humour (Dan Mersh, Paul Litchfield).
Rape Alarms Pitch (Jeremy Limb, Paul Litchfield, Dan Mersh) shows the inside story at Saatchi's, as 3 eager advertising executives evolve slogans ('Honey I raped the kids.' 'Ra-ra Rape-utin.' 'The Rape of Good Hope.'), and swallow Alice-In-Wonderland Pills.
Jeremy Limb is William Tell, delivering a fast stand-up routine to the great man's overture - a remarkable piece of enlightened comedy.
Paul Litchfield becomes disturbed shopping channel host Gideon Shunt (As In Moving Train). He's flogging amethyst St Christopher medals while musing about death in the Crimean War ('Blankets covered in shit. Awful.')
Dan Mersh explains how We Don't Pick On People, but does so, and audience member Brig's up on stage, revealing his GP to be - Dr Eddington. The doctor (Jeremy Limb) has his own sketch, but Dan Mersh and Paul Litchfield do their best to pervert it. Dr Eddington's blameless surgery rapidly deteriorates into a pub, police station ('I'd like to report a break-in'), cab company, and quiz show - at the very least.
In Men At Door (Ding Dong), salesmen Paul Litchfield and Dan Mersh doorstep man-with-baby Jeremy Limb in an unspoken and delightful piece of visual comedy performed to a soundtrack. It's the last sketch. The Trap exit to tasteful end music, 'Ooh, I Could Crush A Grape'.
There are few Edinburgh shows guaranteed to bring delight to every audience. The Trap's one.
Credits: The Trap, who are: (alpha order) Jeremy Limb, Paul Litchfield, Dan Mersh. Technicals - Jake Wiltshire. Written and directed by The Trap. Company - It's Alright For Some.
END
John Park
reviewed Tuesday 29 April 03 / Canal Café Theatre
(c) Fringe Report 2003
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
