UK Theatre Network

A cracking one act comedy.

A well directed, superbly acted comedy romp.

The play, about a down on his luck tramp called Stanley, is set in Brighton and is told in merely one act. When Tim, a hapless Londoner who has come to Brighton for a conference asks Stanley for directions the twists and turns of the night lead to chaos, mayhem and illegal activity. With a well written, tight script the play runs at a very good pace reaching to a satisfying conclusion. All of the audience loved this play. The writing is golden. I was a fan of the writers , Warren Drew's, previous work, The Common Good. So I did expect good things.

It has some cracking one liners including this: 'Tim - UK Gold is now called Dave...because everyone knows someone called Dave. Stanley - They should have called it c***. Everyone knows one of them!'

So perhaps to not go if you are easily offended. If however, you want to see a cracking play that you will laugh all the way through then go see this when it transfers to the West End.

Leaves you wanting more.

Four stars.

We’re all screwed!

Inkling Media Productions present their new one-act-play as lunch time theatre. Lunch time passed much too quickly and left me hungry for more: Big Shoe is great comedy, sometimes bordering on the farcical, with wonderful actors and an extremely witty script by Warren Drew.

Big Shoe actually stands for The Big Issue – the magazine sold in the streets by the less fortunate so the more fortunate can buy it with “smug satisfaction” and place it on their desks at work – cover up. Stanley is one of those sellers and the first person he targets on this unpleasant, rainy day in Brighton is the Londoner Tim who is desperately trying to find the Mandarin Hotel. Tim does not have any change and is only interested in finding his hotel. Stanley is not discouraged by Tim’s refusal and promises him that he will be back. Meanwhile he keeps trying to sell the magazine to the audience: “Give it to your child when he has been naughty!” When Tim inevitably returns after having looked for the hotel everywhere Stanley offers to point him to the tourist office if he buys a magazine for £10.  Tim is so desperate that he agrees. Yet by the time Tim has handed over the money the tourist office is closed! Stanley is not so inclined to return the £10 but he will treat Tim to a cup of tea.  He takes him to a dingy café whose owner – Cheryl – obviously has encountered Stanley before. She does not say much but her piercing stare expresses far more than words ever could. Stanley is completely unfazed by Cheryl’s behaviour and the complete lack of service in the cafe. He asks Tim what he thinks is the most fascinating thing about this place. Tim replies: “That it is called a restaurant?” No, there is a picture of the Holy Virgin Mary on the ceiling of the Gents! Even the Pope’s legate came to see it! Stanley lures Tim into the men’s room but he does not want to show Tim the Virgin Mary – whose picture has miraculously moved to the floor. He is up to something far more outrageous and quite sinister. However, Stan’s plan is rudely interrupted by the appearance of John who would like Stan to pay back his gambling debts and is willing to use excessive violence as a means of persuasion.  

Big Shoe is a hilarious and clever production, skillfully directed by Jaclyn McLoughlin, fast paced, with a wonderful ensemble – Alex Gatehouse as the not so cunning Stanley, Phineas Pett as the nervously aggressive Tim, Jean Apps as the shrewd Cheryl, and Anthony Coleridge as Stan’s nemesis John.

 
The show is now finished but evening performances are likely to be scheduled towards the end of May and in June 2010.  

King’s Head Theatre

115 Upper Street
Islington
London N1 1QN

http://www.kingsheadtheatre.org