Leeds Playhouse – until 8 February 2020
Reviewed by Sally Richmond
5*****
Who is Mr Ubu (Ubu Roi / King Ubu), where did he come from and how an earth did such a coarse, lawless and unrelenting buffoon (remind you of anyone?) become so powerful? These are just some of the questions one asks as you become embroiled and enticed into a harlequinade rumpus at the Leeds Playhouse (a venue that always bills the most dynamic and extraordinary shows and gives the warmest of welcomes).
When participating in Kneehigh’s Ubu (written and co-directed by Carl Goose / co-directed by Mike Shepherd alongside musical director Charles Hazelwood) and participate you will because as soon as it kicks off, one can’t fail to join in the thigh-slapping, trippy, insane and staggeringly brilliant mayhem! Before you know it, you’ll be singing along with gusto to punk classics, Britney Spears and trying to make the sound of a giraffe as you hold an inflatable. Yes, bonkers it is and such a perfect way to brighten and enlighten a dark February evening by bringing some rambunctious play into your life!
The famous saying, ‘madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring’, totally encapsulates the Kneehigh Ubu experience – because ‘bored’ one could never be and ‘ridiculous’ it certainly is! As this unrestrained, uncensored and unrestricted melee unfolds; the political parallels between the original 1896 Alfred Jarry’s world and the modern day shenanigans of today’s parliamentary governments are shockingly mirrored. The first-rate, clown-like japers one witnesses throughout the show including: crude babbling, stealing of the audience’s possessions and a war with beach balls – really do reflect some of the many scandalous acts that powerful leaders have and continue to commit today.
Kneehigh’s Mr Ubu, played by the outstanding Katy Owen, completely epitomises the character of a ruthless dictator. Owen’s talent at making the monster of Ubu appear unhinged through her physical movements (twitching and over the top swivel-eyed dancing) portray a 24-carat raving fool so well, that you just can’t take your eyes off her throughout the whole show. Also giving spectacular performances were: Mike Shepherd – Mrs Ubu, Kyla Goodey – Bobbi, Naill Ashdown as Jeremy Wardle, Dom Coyote – Nick Dallas, Adam Sopp – Captain Shittabrique, House band -Alex Lupo, Justin Lee Radford, Dom Coyote, Renell Shaw and Delycia Belgrave (Lead singer).
The band, Delycia and The Sweaty Bureaucrats, were exceptional, note perfect and got the whole audience singing as we entered and harmonizing as one as we left – this was after we’d joined forces of course, to bring Mr Ubu and his tyrannical reign to a final end. Filled with constant tomfoolery, rip-roaring slapstick and improvised horseplay, Kneehigh’s Ubu is like an unstoppable party that’s got way out of control but, you’d never want to leave because it’s such good fun and impossible not give yourself up to the hilarious hullabaloo of disorder and chaos.