Susan Hanks [taller] and Lou Conran present almost an hour of comedy, sometimes / often about bodily functions, with mutual character assassination and enquiry into just how far people are prepared to go - for a price.

Susan Hanks is described as having been a teacher, with the 'look of Myra Hindley' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moors_murders, 1942-2002, a UK murderer of children]. There is speculation about what ended her teaching career. Lou Conran is described as an office temporary worker; there's discussion of what fringe benefits she's received from her various jobs at the BBC and EDF Energy (a UK broadcaster, and electricity / gas supplier respectively), particularly regarding delivery of stationery and supply of domestic utilities. They ponder anal sex; going to the lavatory; a stomach is shown.

Notes are solicited of short moral dilemmas - 'What's Your Scruple?' - to be placed in 'The Bucket of Morals'. A man is invited to the stage; the notes are read out. They include sexual situations and a question about British soldiers in Northern Ireland. There's consideration of how much money it might take for someone to perform oral sex on a Shetland Pony [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shetland_pony, a small animal popular in the UK for children to ride]. A favourite pink jacket is shown and derided; wind is passed; facial hair discussed and compared to an elderly eccentric British male actor; there's an unexpected trance-like and athletic dance routine. A game is played on a large scale concerning what things people might and might not be prepared to do. The show explores many other areas.

As the performance wears on, it feels as if quite a lot of Hanks & Conran Present 'Scruples?' relates to: oral or anal wind, solids and liquids from or into the body; possible embarrassments caused by the body and the body's shape and abilities; unfortunate - in their opinion, and as presented by them - characteristics of the performers: a kind of grown-up school-days teasing / bullying. Some of it feels one side or other of the divide between cruel / unfunny and good-natured. Sometimes the show gets away from this into more original humour, which is enough to keep interest in it for the almost-hour of tonight's show. It's explained that it is a show preparing to go to the Edinburgh Fringe 2011 (http://www.edfringe.com/).

Part of the grip of the show - despite the at times not particularly interesting, original or funny material - is the personal warmth of Susan Hanks and Lou Conran, who individually and as an act come across in tonight's show as likeable and potentially funny. A strand of physical comedy in the different shapes and attributes of the two performers is partly explored, but sometimes in the show at this stage of its development the way it's done feels uncomfortably unpleasant. The performers are strong in delivery and presence, and there are a few pieces of funny writing and performance in the show which if increased (and perhaps some of the urination / defecation / wind / fat / pony-oral themes decreased / eliminated) could combine with the natural charm of the performers to make a very funny show.

Cast Credits: (Performers, alpha order): Lou Conran. Susan Hanks.

Company Credits: Writers - Lou Conran & Susan Hanks. Director - uncredited. Lighting Designer - none. Sound Designer - none. Technical Operator - none. Producer - uncredited. Company - Laughing Horse. Website - www.laughinghorsecomedy.co.uk.

END

John Park

reviewed Thursday 19 May 2011 / The Temple, Brighton UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com