From the genius behind Mischief Theatre, co-founders Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields have written a laugh-out-loud funny gem of a comedy show in Groan Ups.
Taking a step away from their usual snortingly-silly slapstick which relies on the set falling apart around desperate amateur actors (The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong et al), Groan Ups is more of an observational comedy.
The set still plays a big part, though – cleverly dwarfing the actors when they play small six-year-old children, then shrinking in relation to their size as they grow up. But the comedy comes purely from the brilliant actors, their one-liners and their physicality.
The story follows five small school children from age six, to age fourteen and then to a school reunion when they’re approaching their thirties.
We’re presented with characters that are the usual ‘types’ you’d expect in any school story: Yolanda Ovide (Moon) plays a spectacular spoilt princess, Daniel Abbott (Archie) a sweet, but stifled gay who’s in love with his best friend, Lauren Samuels (Katie) a super serious swot, Dharmesh Patel (Spencer), a hilarious hyperactive whirlwind who doesn’t know where his body begins and ends, plus Matt Cavendish (Simon), a bullied, unpopular outsider, desperate to be part of the group.
All the cast play their roles superbly, storming the stage and carrying off their caricatures with aplomb – first as innocent kids, then as unruly teens and finally as adults whose worlds haven’t quite delivered what they may have dreamed of.
In the second act, Jamie Birkett (Chemise), shines as a fabulous ‘French’ model with a broad Geordie accent and Killian Macardle (Paul) is that guy who attends every school reunion, desperate to recapture the days of his youth.
The play sped by with energy and hilarity. There were belly laughs and farcical fun throughout. My one criticism is that I’d have liked to have less bullying of Simon and more regret shown by the characters for the way they’d treated him in the past, just to tie things nicely up. But then, I’m a sensitive soul who likes everyone to get along!
But apart from that, I can’t fault this colourful, energetic comedy – so if you want a night out where you’re sure to have a laugh and see experts at work on the stage, then go and see Groan Ups at The New Theatre until Saturday 16 October 2021
Tickets: From £14.50
Box Office: 0343 310 0041
More information: www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk