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drinks Monday 4 August 08
Nudge
Verdict: New drama
London - Canal Café Theatre - September 03
Two nutty comedians live together, their career abandoned. They discover a smelly old comedy legend living next door. Can they restore him and themselves to glory?
Yes of course they can - there wouldn't be a story if the answer was no. How it's done is the tale of Nudge. There's tramp-bathing, albinos, and masons en route in this interesting piece of new writing.
The set is the kitchen of Matt (Matt Holt) & Lamont (James Lamont). It's not clean, but compared to the unseen adjacent flat of Cecil Devereaux (Peter Buckley Hill), it's pristine. Once the unhinged lads have discovered who their neighbour is, they bundled him into a tin bath, before popping him in a cardboard box on the way to an old people's home.
Time's running short to get ready for the May Day Mirth Match. Matt & Lamont are out of practice, and Cecil Devereaux is out of this world.
Nudge features original writing, a strong directorial presence, striking lighting (from Jake Wiltshire), and the charisma of its three actors.
James Lamont produces a Lamont who is written partly as an innocent, and more stupid than Matt - but with greater compassion. James Lamont is able to evoke this in a graceful and heart-warming way. It's a fine portrayal. Matt Holt is an experienced and funny stand-up; here he has the challenge of acting one who has failed, and is mad. He creates a complex character. Casting Peter Buckley Hill as the elderly comic is intriguing. PBH is a comedy legend in reality, highly idiosyncratic and with a huge following - who most certainly will never have seen him being bathed on stage.
Chris Lincé's script is a thoughtful and reflective piece of experimental writing. There are a lot of risks in it and it's inspiring to see a writer taking them.
Rohan Acharya directs with gusto, encouraging action of enormous energy, volume and frenetic pace. The fourth wall gets punctured sporadically, breaking dramatic tension, but Acharya boots the clutch, and the play bounds forward again.
Tonight is the first performance of this new drama. It's the start of many showings on the path to Edinburgh 04, with the revisions and adjustments that may involve. It would be wonderful to see, within the play, Matt & Lamont + Devereaux's big night, their triumphant performance - to see for ourselves if they're any good. It would involve a hell of a risk, of course. And it would be interesting to see Nudge in The Assembly Rooms - like putting a keg of dynamite under the austere Houses of Parliament.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Peter Buckley Hill (Cecil Devereaux). Matt Holt (Matt). James Lamont (Lamont). Additional Voice Over - Holly Lucas.
Company Credits: (from programme). Writer - Chris Lincé with Matt Holt. Director - Rohan Acharya. Lighting & Sound - Jake Wiltshire. Stage Manager - Nic Watson. Producer - UnderHand Productions (programme order: Rohan Acharya, Matt Holt, Mike Smith, Nic Watson, James Galea, Jim Morrison).
Acknowledgements: (from programme): Ben Davies, Sam Fluskey, Keef Gould, Hugh Lincé, Holly Lucas, Jim Morrison, Nick Paton, Mike Smith, John Worsey. Video Prince, Edgware Road; Cockpit Theatre; Royal Academy of Music; Emma Taylor & Canal Café staff; Francesca Fanizzi & Bridge House pub staff; all at UnderHand Productions.
END
John Park
reviewed Tuesday 30 September 03
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
