ComedyReviewSouth East

BRIGHTON FRINGE: Not The Horse – Brighton Youth Centre

Writer: Mike Dickinson
Director: Mike Dickinson
Reviewer: Sophie Huggins

The classic crime comedy usually involves the essential elements of bumbling fools, incompetent leaders and a sticky situation that needs untangling. In this brilliantly farcical show, Not The Horse, performed by Naughty Corner Productions, one key ingredient is added – horses, which allows the story to climb into the corners of the audience’s psyche and travel to creatively peculiar places.

Through a clumsy and endearing ensemble, the audience is told the story of Tony, a young scouser who finds himself in a big mess after losing an illegal horse-racing bet to big shot and man you don’t want to mess with – Dom Jones, AKA Juan.

Communicated through the perspectives of three groups: The flashy London rich gang, led by Juan, a scatty Irish mischievous gang who just want to fill their pockets and the norms – Tony and his two friends, Paul and Stan, who come up with multiple inventive ways of undoing Tony’s mess. Finally, after much anarchy in the form of horse thieving, copious cocaine and accidental ketamine injections, all three groups collide, resulting in a chaotic riot in which the twisted knots can be untied, no thanks to Silk, a middle man, who has been meddling in all the trouble.

The writing (and direction), by Mike Dickinson, is snappy, witty and playful and the pace is continuously changing, not allowing the actors to indulge in any moment too long. There is entertaining surprise after surprise and an abundance of fantastically awkward silences, only to be filled with tittering giggles from the audience. As Tony’s mess mounts, there is a clever build up of tension; the stakes really grow as the story does – an aspect hard to achieve in such a bare space with not much cinematic effect. The technical elements that are present, however, and impressively multitasked by Dickinson, are extremely appropriate in the form of amusing tunes and although sometimes shadowy lighting, this is hilariously rectified by the actors. As each group has an accent, the range of dialects, although not all perfect, are refreshing, interesting and a key tool for the audience to identify the groups; an imaginative device for clear storytelling.

There is a bouncing energy between all of the cast who, through their commitment to the text bring a zinging hilarity to this farce of a show. Michael Hawkins as Paul is excellent in his energetic characterisation and the dynamic established in this trio – with Tony (Nick Sheedy) and Stan (Warren Kettle) is a truly believable friendship, enabling an excited anticipation for their scenes. There is a subtle honesty to low-status fool Ernie – Callum Forbes and Daniel Carmichael who plays Silk, the group dabbler, has great comedic timing and a reachable pick of accents that are as impressive as they are hilarious. But all of the remarkably sized cast are instinctively good actors who carry a beautiful honesty in their comedy. Moment to moment, the truth is there and this enables the audience to care, no matter how far-fetched or bizarre the story, as it is rooted in something real.

The key elements of success in this production are clear: the excellent writing and the truthful acting that come together to serve a night of unflinching silliness that reminds lovers of the crime comedy genre of its wonder. A fringe piece head to toe, (or head to tail rather), this is a rocking, rambunctious showcase of farce at its best.

Reviewed on 26 May 2017 | Image: Contributed

www.brightonfringe.org | @brightonfringe

Brighton Fringe Logo

The Reviews Hub is proud to sponsor the Literature & Spoken Work section of Brighton Fringe 2017 as well as being an official Reviews Partner, offering in-depth coverage of the festival.

Review Overview

The Reviews Hub

Unflinching silliness

Show More
Photo of The Reviews Hub - South East

The Reviews Hub - South East

The South East team is under the editorship of Nicole Craft. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

Related Articles

Back to top button
The Reviews Hub