pappy’s is primetime genius

For today’s blog, I’m not going to beat around the bush but get straight into it. I saw a sketch comedy called ‘Pappy’s Fun Club’ and the show is a prime example for my blog – what theatre should be about.

The show tells the story of four fun-loving friends and their adventures in the club that is overlooked by a guy called Pappy. Brendon, Matthew, Ben and Tom (in no particular order) play a multitude of parts, each with a few props and costume changes to tell the story of how Pappy will pull the plug on their club unless they can find a more environmentally friendly way of powering it.

Through several mediums, ‘Funergy’ is the idea that they come up with, but just how they do it is where the journey really takes its course and also the reason why you’ll have to go and see it.

It’s an all round enriching and beautiful tale at the heart of it and it’s the smattering of pure genius comedy which keeps it flowing and inevitably holds the piece together.

As a piece technically, it has to be placed under a microscope to find any faults. The pace of the four performers is undeniably expert and you find yourself envying their talents at many times. They know the show so well that it becomes playful and engaging yet they manage to somehow place the audience at the centre of it through their over-the-top but honest and personal delivery.

If the technical aspects aren’t enough, then the writing undoubtedly adds to the strength of this piece. Even though it’s sketch, each sketch has a strong correlation and each part lends itself to one another completing a nicely rounded piece which leaves you feeling incredibly satisfied. The cyclical storytelling ensures that no prop, song, gesture, word or thought is unnecessary and that’s exactly what we want to see in a piece of theatre.

As I said before, if not for the comedy, see this show on the simple basis that it is a great piece of theatre and something that we should all aim for.

Pappy’s Fun Club – ‘Funergy’ is on at 6.40pm at the Cabaret Bar, Pleasance Courtyard – Venue No. 33.

u.f.n. goes to edinburgh

As we head towards the end of the month where it is meant to be the peak of the summer, I can only hope it’s an Indian summer where it peaks next month instead, and a bit further north because that’s where I’ll be. As London gets too hot and sticky to be spending hours in black boxes with programmes for temporary fans, theatre land recesses to the far north in a place called Edinburgh. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it?

For those of you who have, but can’t make the journey due to other rubbish commitments, then rest assured that UFN will be providing some very insightful coverage. The best way to see the festival (any festival) is to work there and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing. I actually head off tomorrow morning to get on with practically making the theatres from empty shells.

Because of my early involvement with the festival, I’ve decided that I’ll be covering the following:-

· the feel of the place before the festival

· the buzz when the performers start arriving and the dreaded technical rehearsals begin

· the all important previews to pick out the potential hits and misses

· the best rated shows to see

· good nights out and things to do other than the theatre

· where and how to spend some quiet time

At the moment that’s enough to be getting on with and more ideas will inevitably pop up as the festival commences. I hope that it can be insightful for anybody thinking of heading up and not sure what it’s going to be like and also for those who are missing out altogether.

If there’s anything you’d like me to blog that you haven’t seen or heard about, then drop me a line and I’ll see what I can do.

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To put it plainly, Until Further Notice will be casting its thoughts on what the Edinburgh Festival should be about.

In the mean time, take a look at these views on the fringe box office ticket fiasco:-

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/theatre/2008/07/wlll_recent_chaos_bring_order.html

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/21258/booking-system-failure-causes-five-week-delay

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Fringe-drama-plunged-into-a.4201359.jp