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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Jessica McCloud & Laura Black
in
Vital Statistics
Verdict: Bad breasts, great bottom
Jessica McCloud (the taller one), and Laura Black investigate reality tv, and specifically Gloria's breasts. It's an hour of finely-tuned character comedy, a set of acutely-observed sketches loosely linked by a documentary theme.
Rude songs on the PA pave the way for a gentle slide into the louche - but lady-like - vulgarity at which McCloud & Black excel. It's funny, it's often extremely subtle, it's always acutely-observed, and usually fairly filthy.
There's a pivot in many performers' careers when they ditch the props, scenery, synthesisers, audio-visuals, sound-tracks - and strip down to the basics of what they do. Using a couple of chairs and the occasional moustache, the actors tonight deliver their comedy pared to its basics. It's McCloud & Black Unplugged, and it's fabulous.
Sketches tonight include the most ghastly teacher ever. Singing-coach Nadia (Laura Black) torments and humiliates her pupils. Backward Josh suffers, camp Russell (both Jessica McCloud in subtle performances) achieves a small victory.
The link is singer Yvonne, trained by Nadia. The loose narrative features her and unseen trapeze artist Gloria, the twin characters from a reality tv show. The characters in the show are their friends and family.
There's Yvonne's parents, Sue (Black) & Mike (McCloud). It's a biting satire of diseased marriage, with some great lines
- Sue: 'I'm not pretty, but my goodness I know how to fuck.' There's seemingly gormless but deceptively acute Yvonne herself (Black) and her sassy best friend, stylist Ruth (McCloud).
Gloria's breast enhancement has gone badly - and unevenly - but her bottom is enormous. The idea was to seek balance, but all now is lop-sided. Gloria's distress is, in the way of life, her friends' delight. There's Gloria's mates from the circus run by Romanov (McCloud) and his raunchy girlfriend Julia (Laura); Dave (Black) & Vern (McCloud), animal-shit-sweepers with acrobatic intent.
A highlight of the night is Laura Black's cringeingly snobbish trapeze artiste June, to Jessica McCloud's long-suffering Liverpudlian Molly. It's a carefully-written and delivered vignette of comedy drama; drama because of its sharp undertone of distress, and the subtle cruelties of unaware everyday conversation.
Vital Statistics shows McCloud & Black at top form. There's lots of rudeness - one of their fortés. There's silky observation honed on an oilstone. There's some good strong writing. It's funny, and sharp.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Laura Black, Jessica McCloud. Voice-over - Ben Fry.
Company Credits: Written & directed by (alpha order) Laura Black, Jessica McCloud, Sarah Power. Agent - Sissi Liechtenstein. Publicist - Tracey Carson at Paul Sullivan PR. Latchmere venue credits: Technical Operator - Justin Wiseman. Box Office - Travis. Artistic Director - Paul Higgins.
END
John Park
reviewed Wednesday 30 June / Latchmere Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
