Hull New Theatre, Hull – until Saturday 25 May 2019
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
Having seen a couple of Mischief Theatre Productions before (The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong) I knew I would be seeing a brilliant show and I certainly wasn’t disappointed! From beginning to end it was a non- stop belly laughing gag fest and the singing was an unexpected bonus!
Set in 1950’s Minneapolis during a crime wave, caused by the opening of a new interstate highway, the story is about a jail breakout, trying steal a half a million-dollar diamond from a Hungarian Prince (stored in probably the worst bank in the state) and the very dodgy residents of the town who all seem to be criminals in some shape or form!
The gags come thick and fast, the actors playing numerous parts seamlessly, particularly George Hannigan who was brilliant as “Everyone Else” and got well deserved applause after one particular scene!
The casts comic timing, with the very physical comedy particularly, was very slick and looked effortless. The scenes in the apartment and the pull-out bed were brilliant and I really loved the “vertical office scene” with Warren Slax (Jon Trenchard) trying to move around the office, it looked very skilful and hard work! And to smack someone around the head and miss (I hope!) made the audience laugh out loud.
The cast are all outstanding, the plot is bonkers, the stunts are very skilfully done and the jokes are hilarious, some are very like The Two Ronnies gags (the Freeboys one especially!)
The audience loved the it, and getting a standing ovation on a Tuesday night in Hull takes some doing.
Really can’t say too much without giving the plot away but if you like a brilliantly acted, fast moving, hilarious play don’t miss it!!