Dead Funny - Vaudeville

I sat row C but this isn't third row, they have two rows in front of A. You might have to look up a bit but if it is cheap, go for it..
Puzzling play, in that I wonder why reprise it now. I suppose they felt that How the Other Half Loves is going well, similar era though here we do have a mobile phone which actually does nothing in the plot and could have been used if slight alterations had been allowed. The underlying idea of wanting a child is outdated ( I'm not spoiling, all v obvious) as nowadays you can become pregnant as a single woman if you want to. But the Idea of needing love is timeless I suppose. Behind me sat a chap about my age explaining who all the comedians were who were being referenced in the text. His younger companion, son maybe, didn't know about them at all. I guess most of the audience did know something but heaven help tourists.
It is well acted, in fact brilliantly by a couple of them, the leading lady and Brian ( sorry, no programme and have forgotten names...shoot me) The set and the direction ok though somewhat unimaginative and v false looking bookshelves and no concept of real space with doors into kitchen area and from hall imagined awkwardly. The slapstick done ok but one of the daftest and funniest and possibly metaphoric moment done too far back of stage. Left with odd feeling that this is one step away from an Ayckbourn and two steps from an Osborne but worth seeing.

some food, no dogs and yes, nudity of the male variety. 

I found this to be a surprisingly and rewardingly serious piece, despite the pretty much non-stop belly laughs. Although, as Lynette noted above, it borders on territory mined to death by Alan Ayckbourn - marriages and friendships coming apart in a night of suddenly revealed and shattering truths - Terry Johnson's play is much better than that. It has a unique premise that allows for all kinds of humour, from droll sit-com to out and out slapstick, yet it never loses its way dramatically. The desperation of its characters is fully acknowledged and realized.

The five person cast is terrific. The three men - Rufus Jones, Steve Pemberton and Ralf Little - are called upon to do extended impressions of Benny Hill, Frankie Howard, Morecombe and Wise (especially well done) and even Sid James as they recreate some classic routines - and they do it wonderfully. Jones also has one of the riskier nude scenes I've seen on a stage and he deals with it like a pro.

The women are even better. Emily Berrington, last seen by me jumping naked into an onstage swimming pool at the Almeida, turns out to be a first class comedienne who nails all of her many laughs, and Katherine Parkinson is, well, sublime. It is her character that is the pivot of the plot, her anguish that underpins the show, and she's quite magnificent. Lots of laughs, lots of tears. A great actress.

Lynette also raised the point about just who the intended audience for this might be. Yes, it's about a group of staunch fans mourning the passing of Benny Hill on an evening in 1992, in the course of which many other comics of the era are brought up and mimicked. So is it just for Brits of a certain age? What will the tourists make of it? Personally I think the play is strong enough to transcend that but, also, let's remember that Benny Hill became a worldwide phenomenon for a while and, as for the others, well, speaking as an American raised in Canada, I knew (or knew of) all of them except Max Miller. Who he?

Judging from the response in the theatre yesterday this production is going to do just fine.

I saw this yesterday and enjoyed it immensely - the juxtaposition of despair and belly laughs was perfectly judged. I didn’t really know what to expect going in but wasn’t expecting the farce to have quite such a dark, emotional core. I found Katherine Parkinson’s performance to be absolutely heartbreaking in places – this is certainly much more than a cosy carry-on infused nostalgia trip.

You mean they're actually playing The Lovers' Guide video? I assumed it was just a soundtrack. That's quite a distraction for the actors.

Oh no ! My wife and I will be front row and we'll be smartly dressed (for us). The last time I had such a warning was Neville's Island. I hope it's nothin like that, I stank of stagnant water all the way home... is the entire front row at risk of dinner or just the unlucky ones on the left ?

Very surprised they're chucking nuts about in this age of allergies! They'll be getting a visit from 'Elf 'n' Safety...

I thought that the nuts in Dead Funny were of the human variety.

It is very unlikely Rice was based on Miller though it is a common misconception.

Max Miller was the greatest front cloth comedian of all time. Even in a massive venue when he came on stage such was his charisma that it seemed like the circle and stalls came closer and wrapped themselves around him.

Benny Hill, Morcambe and Wise and Frankie Howard etc leaves me very cold and yes this was the premise of the play, but it would be very fair to say that the play was a lot more than that and it delivered. I found this to be very Ayckbournesqe.

I could say it is the best play I have seen this year (that wouldn't be hard), but also chuck in last year for good measure, well that is going a bit OTT, I couldn't neglect the excellent Ma Rainey Black Bottoms, but I could easily settle for best new comedy.

I did laugh once, twice - many times.

5 stars.

Wow, Benny Hill psychic then?