Review by: Paul Towers, 26 March 2019
The Comedy About A Bank Robbery by Henry Lewis, Jonathan
Sayer & Henry Shields
A Mischief Theatre production
Curve 26 – 30 March 2019
“an evening of laughs and spills”
For anyone who has seen The Play That Goes Wrong or Peter
Pan Goes Wrong you know exactly what to expect from a Mischief Theatre show and
Bank Robbery does not disappoint.
This time a step has been taken away from the premise of the
amateur drama group’s mishaps into the realm of American caper films.
The opening scene is very reminiscent of a Brian Rix farce
but brought right up to date with a superbly written and acted cross talk
routine executed at speed and to great effect. From there the mishaps pile
higher and higher as our dozy trio, newly released from jail, try and organise
the theft of a diamond from the local bank (OK don’t try and follow a plot,
just revel in the extraordinary silliness of it all). Along the way there are
impossibly unbelievable mistaken identities, lots of slamming of doors, fold up
beds and physical comedy. Oh, and don’t forget the seagulls. Very important
plot points!
The scenery, designed by David Farley, is a logistical
marvel as it slides on and off, folds in and out and, unusually for a Mischief
Theatre show, doesn’t fall over.
The second half has two of the most inventive set pieces I
have ever seen on stage. A gravity defying routine whereby we look down on an
office seems impossible; the other stand out scene involves a Mission Impossible
style heist from the ceiling of the bank as three people descend to snatch the
diamond.
The cast, especially the main actors, are very physical and
never missed a stunt or punch. Fight director Kevin McCurdy must have had his
work cut out choreographing it all.
Liam Jeavons as Mitch Ruscitti, Sean Carey as Sam Monahan and
Jon Trenchard as Warren Slax lead a very hard working and talented cast of 14
Right from the moment the lights went down the laughs
started and didn’t stop til the curtain call. Mischief Theatre lives up to its
name with an evening of laughs and spills.
The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is at Curve until Saturday
30th March but there are only limited tickets remaining so book as
soon as you can.
First published on Western Gazette
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