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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
The Oxford Revue
Verdict: Funny sketch comedy
Edinburgh 05 - Underbelly - 18:10 (0:55)
The Oxford Revue is an hour of light comedy sketches about life in general from a cast of 7 (3F, 4M).
A mobile-phone warning is sung (by Adam Perchard). A deranged fan obsesses on close relations of Michael Jackson and people with similar names. A lecherous woman conceals money from an apparent attacker. Days of hunting hunt-protesters are lovingly recalled.
American virgins (Laura Corcoran, Charlotte Cross) bring God into sex ('Sluts will burn in Hell'). A farmer (Will Pooley) demonstrates piglet-delivery. Dance teacher Babs (Freya Elliott) blends disco-demonstration with bile about rival Vera. A court turns into a general-knowledge quiz - with a clincher allowing the guilty to go free, or choose a member of the victim's family to serve their time for them.
An archbishop consults PRs to update the image of the Church. A man shows photos of people who've died. A librarian (Will Pooley) with a lisp recites the library's odd rules. A woman deserted by her husband calls bingo, with bitter verbal tags for the numbers - very funny, and subtly performed.
The show's highlight has Arthur Percy Taylor Ravenscroft (Max Pritchard) showing his craft as a public-school hip-hop artiste. It's excellent writing, gifted acting and dance.
Ali Lonsdale is a woman (played by a man, Adam Perchard) looking for love. A couple ask for a lipsticked shirt (and pants) to be changed at a shop - is Judith in the warehouse guilty? Duty-free-booze-cruise-ferry cabaret singer Labia (Laura Corcoran) sings a song of life's laments - superb acting and writing.
A cynical hospital radio DJ (Tom Williams) is graphically frank with his audience. Hazel Clutter aka Ruby Lips (Freya Elliott) has 3 breasts after competive cosmetic surgery. A woman tells a blind man that his dog is human. The opening singer (Adam Perchard) closes with a song warning about terrible things that could happen on the way home.
The show has generally excellent writing with only a few weak spots. The sketches are imaginative, and go off in unexpected directions without the dreaded 'surreal' happening. The sketch about the randy blind dog-man is superb - clever and funny. The man trying apparently to rob a woman who wants him to find the money on her body, is an old joke - but given new life skilfully. The shirt-changing joke is clever, unexpected and funny.
The room is long (and full) and sound sometimes doesn't carry. Some of the voices don't project to the back all the time. Sometimes diction isn't clear. But most of the time, all is fine. Direction by Charlie Henniker is pacy, with a clear eye for where the laugh is. Performances from Laura Corcoran, Charlotte Cross, Freya Elliott, Adam Perchard, Will Pooley, Max Pritchard, Tom Williams are superb. Production manager and technical operator Martin Adams hits the cues on time - essential in this fast-paced comedy. The show is skilfully produced by Heather Oliver
Cast Credits: (alpha order): (all the cast play various roles, sample roles listed): Laura Corcoran - virgin, ferry singer Labia. Charlotte Cross - virgin, bingo caller. Freya Elliott - dance teacher Babs, singer Ruby Lips. Adam Perchard - singer at start and end, Ali Lonsdale. Will Pooley - pig deliverer, librarian. Max Pritchard - public school rapper. Tom Williams - bumpkin, hospital radio dj.
Company Credits: Written by the cast. Director - Charlie Henniker. Production Manager (and technical operator) - Martin Adams. Company - The Oxford Revue. Producer - Heather Oliver.
END
John Park
reviewed Saturday 13 August 05 / Underbelly
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
