This is Mischief’s most ambitious show to date – filled with plenty of silly humour that leaves the audience in stitches.
It is always impressive at the sheer number and range of jokes that Mischief are able to put into their shows and this is taken to whole new levels in the Comedy About Spies which is so fast paced in the humour that the audience is left in stitches.
Set in 1961, the show involves the CIA and the KGB are trying to get their hands on the mysterious Project Midnight. With much of the action taking place in an retro hotel, what follows is plenty of mistaken identities (a couple and an actor auditioning for the first James Bond film getting caught up in the proceedings), chaos, explosions and fast paced action.
Co-written by Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, there is plenty of wordplay involved that ensures great fun – particularly right at the beginning in which secret agents are named after letters in the alphabet, while the use of running gags such as the idea that bottles of Shiraz are set to explode are used effectively with some being pushed to the absolute limit yet the audience still are able to enjoy.
While some of the jokes can be seen a mile off, the cleverness of the script means that the audience can enjoy the anticipation of them being said. In addition, while the physical elements of comedy are not so much a part of this show, the scenes in the hotel room are brilliantly executed (although if you are sitting in the higher level seats you will need to look at the screens as you can’t see the actors given the position of the set), particularly in the moment in which Bernard Wright (sweetly dorky baker) inadvertently becomes a double and then triple agent which is brilliantly handled in its simplicity.
Directed by Matt Dicarlo, there is a joyous energy to the whole show that keeps the audience thoroughly invested in what next outrageous situation is going to unfold – no moment is wasted but it might be nice for there to be a bit more space to ensure that the audience is keeping up with everything that is happening in terms of the plot. David Farley’s set design perfectly captures the swinging 1960’s well and is impressively ambitious in terms of the location, while Johanna Town’s lighting design, particularly on the hotel room scenes add a bit of a Cludo vibe to proceedings, enhanced with the sequence of the bugged radio that builds to a brilliant climax.
Formed of many of the original members of the mischief company, the characters are brilliantly realised. From Dave Hearn’s determined to make it as a serious spy Lance, Nancy Zamit as his over keen mother Janet wanting to get involved with proceeding all the way through to Henry Lewis’s delightfully over the top actor Douglas Woodbead there is plenty to be enjoyed from all of the performances that are perfectly in sync comedy wise.
Overall, this is a delightfully silly addition to Mischief’s growing catalogue of well thought out and entertaining shows that will delight audiences of all ages.
By Emma Clarendon
The Comedy About Spies continues to play at the Noel Coward Theatre until the 5th September.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️