York Theatre Royal – Thursday 21st March 2024
Reviewed by Michelle Richardson
4****
On Thursday evening I had the pleasure of watching Le Navet Bete, back on the York Theatre Royal’s main stage, with their brand-new show King Arthur. Throw out anything you know, or think you know, about the King and his knights. This tale of King Arthur is a fresh, bonkers, and reimaging of the legend we all know, from this touring physical theatre company.
Three inept squires, played by Nick Bunt, Al Dunn and Matt Freemen, are all suffering the effects from the night before. There is a realisation that they have gotten into a bit of bother, all three are in the stocks with the front row chucking rotten vegetables at them. With Queen’s “I Want to Break Free” playing, we find out what they are wearing, think back to the iconic video and you get the gist, until Matt reveals himself, a flesh-coloured bodysuit complete with a detachable willy, a sight to behold.
Dave the Rave has promised the young King Arthur, that he, along with his two hapless cronies Edgar and Osbert, will put on a show of all things great about the King and Camelot. There is a huge problem, they can’t act for toffee, and there is nothing about the King or Camelot that is worth mentioning. They need to come up with ideas fast, as the ever-changing deadline approaches.
The three energetic actors take on the roles of Merlin, a underwear boiling madman, Lancelot, a fusspot of a chef with a terrible French accent, a flighty Guinevere, all the would be knights, evil Morgana and Mordred, and of course King Arthur himself, who is played by both Nick and Al. They must beef up the characters to make them show worthy.
The costume and character changes are achieved with lightning speed, exiting through a curtain to entering through a door as a completely different person. It is all absolutely nuts, a whirlwind of stories, and such a feat that they can all pull it off, with enormous help from Fi Russell, the Stage Manager, and the production team, with such aplomb.
You can’t help but laugh along at the slap stick comedy and be amazed at some of the stunts. All three display superb physicality, though Matt is probably the most daring, jumping, tumbling around on set, but Nick and Al aren’t far behind him. You can feel the close bond between the three.
I really enjoy this type of theatre and I have previously seen a couple of their shows, I am a fan of their work. Though this had some great skits, and I enjoyed all the madness and mayhem, at times I think the need to get the joke across was a bit too drawn out, it could have been sharper, they didn’t need to try so hard. The show is still damn funny.
Le Navet Bete (The Daft Turnip) command the stage with their infectious energy and this show is a must for all fans of physical comedy theatre, suitable for all ages. I look forward to their next production and all their antics.
Showing in York until Saturday 23rd March and touring throughout the UK