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drinks Monday 1 September 08 Edinburgh Reunion in London
Topping And Butch Hit Leicester Square 26-27 September 08
NewsRevue
Verdict: Expert comedy
Review of director Elanor Wallis-Scott's earlier run of NewsRevue - 2002
NewsRevue parodies news and current events, often via the medium of knob gags. It's on weekly at London's Canal Café Theatre, and annually at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The team is always 4 actors (2M, 2F), one musical director (MD, pianist), one director; the team changes every 6 weeks; material is updated weekly.
This run features James Burton (the slimmer, darker-haired actor who plays PM Blair), Claire McCarthy-Hall (the actress with darker hair who plays Cherie Blair QC), Felicity Russell (the actress with red hair), Anthony Topham (the muscular actor who plays President Bush). Musical Director (Pianist) is Tom De Keyser; Director - Elanor Wallis-Scott; Technical Director - Ross McGivern; Producer - Emma Taylor; Assistant Producer - Louis Brownhill.
Tonight's show includes material on UK PM Blair losing the nation's trust, dismissal of Eastenders producer, Osama Bin Laden as Frank Spencer, Chelsea Tractors (4x4 cars), President Bush of America, Cherie Blair QC's big mouth, Michael Howard MP & Oliver Letwin MP, MTV Awards, Britney Spears's marriages, Charlotte Church's drink binges, Al-Jazeera TV; American presidential election 04 - winner President Bush, his wife Laura Bush, his opponent John Kerry and wife Teresa Heinz Kerry; John Simpson in Fallujah, HM The Queen and HRH Prince Phillip, MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus) in hospitals, Trinny Woodall & Susannah Constantine, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Band Aid's 2004 DVD, Royal Mail, Wayne Rooney, perceptions of America.
James Burton delivers some sublime satire, particularly as a camp Osama Bin Laden voiced as Frank Spencer.
Claire McCarthy-Hall is superb as Cherie Booth QC - 'Me and my big mouth' - and outstanding in every one of her appearances.
Felicity Russell presents a set of stunning impressions - exact and extremely funny - with highlights as a rolling drunk Charlotte Church (written by Gill Smith), and a supreme take-off of breathless WH Auden reciting The Night Mail (by Stephen Follows & Toby Oliver).
Anthony Topham gives fine deliveries of President Bush in several scenarios.
Musical Director (Pianist) Tom De Keyser plays with grace some very fine piano arrangements he devises for the songs.
Elanor Wallis-Scott directs with a sure eye for what is funny - sometimes an unusual quality in comedy shows. She makes the sketches tight, ends them exactly on time. The result is crisp, with (tonight) a lot of big laughs. Technical director Ross McGivern delivers sharp timing and imaginative design to lights and sound.
The actors create some fine ensemble numbers, in particular the show's highlights: Chelsea Tractor - a cleverly-written sketch (by Anthony Topham) and song (by Noel Christopher) parodying 4x4s; Stateside Story - a deft medley of West Side Story (by the cast) which systematically takes America apart, and closes the show.
The show benefits from the gifted, delightful and moving singing voices of Claire McCarthy-Hall and Felicity Russell - particularly when they duet together, as in their parody of Abba (Sven FA, by Noel Christopher).
Writer Credits: Writers in this run include (alpha order): Christopher Bryant, James Burton, Michael Callaghan, Drew Cameron, Noel Christopher, Stephen Follows, Tom De Keyser, Claire McCarthy-Hall, Toby Oliver, Felicity Russell, Tim Shishodia, Gill Smith, Jason Smith, Anthony Topham, Rupert Wainwright, Elanor Wallis-Scott.
Cast Credits (alpha order): James Burton. Claire McCarthy-Hall. Felicity Russell. Anthony Topham. Musical Director (Pianist) Tom De Keyser
Company Credits: Director - Elanor Wallis-Scott; Technical Director - Ross McGivern; Producer - Emma Taylor; Assistant Producer - Louis Brownhill; Box Office - Venue staff.
END
John Park
reviewed Thursday 18 November 04 / Canal Café Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
