JUMPING THE SHARK - REVIEW - UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE

Outrageously funny, David Cantor and Michael Kingsbury’s new comedy Jumping the Shark has the audience in absolute stitches from start to finish. From the writers of My Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, this piece of comedic genius is currently on tour visiting four venues in Inner London, Edinburgh, Tunbridge Wells, and Basingstoke between March 7th and April 1st, 2023. We meet five strangers, Pam, Gavin, Morgan, Dale, and Amy, attending a seminar on sitcom writing, led by notorious writer Frank Donohue. From their first appearances alone, we instantly see how each of these characters contrasts with each other, which only fuels the comedy further.

It is difficult to pick a standout performance in this play; the entire cast brings an infectious energy to their characters, complimenting each other brilliantly. I thoroughly enjoyed watching specific relationships develop, some passive-aggressive, some amorous, some tense, and all hysterical. We gradually explore each of their troubles and insecurities, and thus each character is granted moments of self-realisation and acceptance that bring new layers of emotion to the play. The entire show is like comedic therapy.

Robin Sebastian (Babs: The True Story of a British Icon) and Sarah Moyle (Doctors) are an amazing pairing as Gavin and Pam – I think it’s safe to say I’ll never look at lasagne in the same way ever again! They each go through opposite journeys of character development, with Pam finally embracing her own self-worth while Gavin begins to chip away at his overly theatrical persona, and in turn, they balance each other out. Also, I would say that Jack Trueman’s (Shark Bait) performance as Dale is an absolute scene stealer, as he is somehow able to be simultaneously obnoxious and lovable in equal measures, arguably going on the most intense character journey of all. Dale begins the play with overpowering energy and confidence, and yet by the end, you just want to give him a hug and tell him everything will be okay. Dale’s character completely contrasts that of Morgan, played by Harry Visinoni (Coronation Street) which in turn creates another iconic (though seemingly reluctant) comic duo. Personally, the style of comedy Visinoni brings to the play is by far my favourite, steeped in sarcasm, passive aggression, and subtlety in a way that seems the most natural and effortless (despite the casual breaks into the rhyme of course). Even his entrance is iconic, with Morgan completely dissolving the chatty atmosphere built up beforehand with just his silence and sunglasses alone!

Additionally, Jasmine Armfield’s (EastEnders) portrayal as Amy brings the most tension to the play, and in turn, this becomes more than just a fun little writing workshop – Amy has a purpose, an agenda, and the audience is on the edge of their seats trying to second guess what exactly it is. I felt as though I was able to connect the most with her character through Armfield’s captivating performance, blending moments of absolute heartache and hilarity flawlessly. And of course, the entire play is grounded by Frank, performed by David Schaal (The Office, The Inbetweeners). Frank ties the piece together with his ability to connect with each of the characters on different levels, encouraging them to dig deeper into their real lives to allow their wounds to surface, catalysing revelation after revelation. And yet, he is just as flawed as the rest of them, if not more so. They are all united in imperfection.

Overall, this play is perfect for anyone who enjoys sitcoms, writing, or just comedy in general. There truly is something in here for everyone.

{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}

A PISSEDMAS CAROL – REVIEW – LEICESTER SQUARE
by Amy Rye
The infamous Sh!t Faced Showtime are back in London with a festive edition, they have taken Dickens’ classic and put a drunken spin on it. The formula is the same as other iterations of the Shi!t Faced shows, one member of the cast has been boozing, and this time it is John Milton who plays Scrooge. Before the show, half a bottle of Jim Beam, some wine, and beer have been consumed in the previous 4 hours. The rest of the cast, try to keep the show on track, also aided by James Murfitt as the compere, Charles Dickens. The … More A PISSEDMAS CAROL – REVIEW – LEICESTER SQUARE
A CHRISTMAS CAROL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE
by Ellie Preston
Spine-tingling yet heart-warming, Mark Gatiss’s retelling of A Christmas Carol truly encapsulates the haunting atmosphere of a Victorian ghost story, balanced out with enough humour so as to capture the festive season. Led by Keith Allen as Scrooge, with Peter Forbes as Marley, this show is perfect for Christmas viewing. The set design by Paul Wills is instantly captivating, containing stacks of metal cabinets towering over the theatre, moveable by the cast to allow space for other central props like doors, beds and tables. In addition to this, the puppetry design by Matthew Forbes is incredibly clever, adding creepy elements to the show such … More A CHRISTMAS CAROL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE
A WOMAN WALKS INTO A BANK – REVIEW – THEATRE503
by Tom Carrao
The title of this winner of Theatre 503’s 2023 International Playwriting Award by Roxy Cook may seem like the set-up to a joke, but the narrative that unspools is instead an affectionate, gently barbed and at base quite sobering portrait of three ordinary souls (and one restless feline) adrift in modern Moscow. There is much affable, satirical back-and-forth commentary on the accepted myths & stereotypes of the Russian spirit & soul. Beset by the indignities of age, opportunism, graft, fatigue, the characters orbit one another, doomed to play out their roles in an unjust, predatory and saturnine universe. The play opens … More A WOMAN WALKS INTO A BANK – REVIEW – THEATRE503
PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE
by Amy Rye
Peter Pan Goes Wrong first premiered in London at the Pleasance Theatre in 2013, and earlier this year the show made its Broadway debut. Now the production is back in the West End for the Christmas season. Following on from The Play That Goes Wrong, in this production, J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is staged by the fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society and goes awry, disastrously so. The meta-comedy is filled with slapstick comedy, sometimes the humour may be predictable and silly, but it’s universally funny throughout – there is something for everyone here, and the laughs come thick and fast … More PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE
GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE
by George Rennie
Drawing heavily from the classic canon of the British supernatural, HighTide’s trio of contemporary Gothic narratives uses traditional storytelling formats to address contemporary themes. Directed by Elayce Ismail, reverent musical interludes accompany tales of apparitions and nighttime conjurings that speak of women from the East of England. Unfortunately, the effect is less chilling and more lightweight, with conventional structures, predictable plot twists and an over-reliance on external forces to drive narrative shoring up some of the less relatable aspects of the genre. Nicola Werenowska’s The Beach House, perhaps the cleanest of the three tales, tells of a mother and daughter’s … More GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE