Show: The Comeback
Society: London (professional shows)
Venue: Noël Coward Theatre. 85-88 St Martin's Lane, London
Credits: By BEN ASHENDEN AND ALEX OWEN. Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Tulchin Bartner Productions
Type: Sardines
Author: Aimee Collins
Performance Date: 10/07/2021
A ‘Comeback’ for Comedy…
Aimee Collins | 13 Jul 2021 16:55pm
Photos: Marc Brenner
Sequin hats, disastrous misunderstandings and a chaotic stage chase brings laughter and joy once again to the Noël Coward Theatre as ‘The Comeback’ continues its exclusive run in the West End.
Double act ‘The Pin’, Alex Owen and Ben Ashenden, encapsulate the audience throughout this fascial one act show, playing both up-and-coming comedy duo Ben and Alex but also old-timers Jimmy and Sid, as they vie for the spotlight to win the attention of a Hollywood hotshot in the audience.
The show begins as Ben and Alex play the warm up act for Jimmy and Sid and it was clear from the start we were in for an evening of witty one liners, perfectly timed and cleverly framed jokes, meaning the audience could not fail to laugh on cue!
We then meet Jimmy and Sid as they await to take to the stage, Sid desperately trying to convince Jimmy to revive some of their sketches from the ‘old days’, believing these will impress the Hollywood big-wig. They indulge us with a rehearsal of their duet of ‘Two Peas in a Pod’, donning matching sequin hats and jackets, a silver glitter curtain framing the routine.
The initially seamless transitions between on and off stage, following Ben and Alex and then Jimmy and Sid, then collide in catastrophic fashion when the duos become intertwined, Ben pretending to be Jimmy whilst the real Jimmy lies knocked out in the kitchen after Alex hit him over the head with a baking tray!
Mistaken identity continues to cause havoc when yesterday evening’s celebrity guest, Toby Jones, was called up on stage to assist the younger duo in containing the drama. As the crowd broke into applause to welcome the stage and screen actor, Ben and Alex embraced the moment to take their own bow, their egos assuming the rapture for their own stagecraft. Toby was a great sport, dry-reading a Scandinavian script, being tasered and then thrown into a locker!
The audience laughed from beginning to end – the quick-witted script packed full with humour very much akin to some of the greatest ‘end-of-the-pier’ comedy acts of the past – a refreshing revival of some of the most loved, simple, yet wonderful comedy skits!
- : admin
- : 10/07/2021