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StickMen: Year One
Verdict: Distinctive sketch comedy
The Stick Men is a set of sketches linked by a shadow of narrative. They're set in a half-world of unlikeliness - and high energy.
Tonight the cast are joined by Stick Woman - a courageous member of the audience, Siobhān Rhodes-Johnson.
It's hard to depict the centre of Stick Men's comedy - it has a strong visual impact - but possible to award it parents. They might include Samuel Beckett (1906-1989), whose plays such as Waiting For Godot (1953) popularised The Theatre Of The Absurd. There's a trace of The Goons (1950s BBC Radio: Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine, Spike Milligan).
There's a liberal dash of Beyond The Fringe (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 22 August 1960: Writers & Performers - Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Jonathan Miller, Dudley Moore; Duncan Wood - Director; Don Silverman - Producer), Behind the Fridge (Peter Cook, Dudley Moore 1971-72), and Peter Cook & Dudley Moore's The Establishment Club.
Bearing in mind that the world's said to divide into (a) those who find Spike Milligan funny (Prince Charles), and (b) those that don't, The Stick Men might cut a selective groove through audiences - rather like the parting of the Red Sea. What it certainly won't do is bore them.
Tonight's sketches included Song On The Internet, Gay Bird Watchers, Show Me Your Underpants, TeleSales Of Generic Substances, St Benedict of Mercia, Dr Panache & Dr Chutzpah, Andie MacDowell In The Lift, Judges, High Maintenance Woman, Bernie Taupin Lectures On Mongoose V Cobra, Columbo's Shopping List, Rape In Self-Defence, The Wednesday Machine, Lazlo & Bosie & The Perceptive Imp, Scene In A Restaurant, Storm Recital.
The strikingly handsome Fergus March delivers ebullient comedy - for Edinburgh 04 the part's played by the fabulous comedian and actor Tom Price; the equally handsome Damian Kell's a cracking rainswept Scot & sleazy Detective Columbo (impersonated to a T), the equally handsome Matt Kirshen's a constant delight. A major discovery of the night is the gloriously talented and gorgeous Siobhān Rhodes-Johnson, giving an Andie MacDowell (among other performances) greatly improved on the original.
There's strong, focused and original direction from Rohan Acharya.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Damian Kell. Matt Kirshen. Fergus March tonight / Tom Price from July 04 including Edinburgh 04. Guest artist: Siobhān Rhodes-Johnson.
Company Credits:
Writers include (alpha order): Rohan Acharya, Marc Blakewill, The Cast, Keef Gould, Matt Holt, James Lamont, Chris Lincé, James Mackay, Lucy Middleweek, Nicholas Paton, Mike Smith, Nic Watson. Director - Rohan Acharya. Technical Director - Nic Watson. Company - Underhand.
END
John Park
reviewed Monday 24 May 04 / Canal Café Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
www.fringereport.com
