Mischief Theatre are back with yet another masterpiece. Known, and rightly so, for their mini-series of plays which go wrong, where split-second timing and inventive set design combine to make things conspire against them in superb comedic vein; I actually expected something similar from this their latest escapade, 'Groan Ups'.
In fact, what 'Groan Ups' actually does is go one step further, and instead of the company relying on things extraneous to create the hilarity, they create it themselves, through sparkling dialogue and side-splittingly funny (but accurate - even if exaggerated) characterisations.
The play is in three acts and takes us through the lives of a group of five people from their time together in the same class at Primary School (Act 1), the same class at Senior School (Act 2), and then as thirty-something adults back in the classroom again for a school reunion (Act 3). Their transformations completely believable and solid.
I am uncertain what age limitations are advised for this play, but in the audience this evening (a too late a start at 8pm for a play with a running time of 145 minutes) were some very young children, who, although they laughed at the adults pretending to be their age in the first scenes, there is most definitely some language and business which I would not advise for those so young.
I am uncertain what age limitations are advised for this play, but in the audience this evening (a too late a start at 8pm for a play with a running time of 145 minutes) were some very young children, who, although they laughed at the adults pretending to be their age in the first scenes, there is most definitely some language and business which I would not advise for those so young.
However, back to the play itself: heart-achingly accurate portrayals of innocence, young love, and failed marriages and broken dreams (in that order). The unexpected addition of two further characters after the interval at the school reunion also greatly helps to move the comedy and the dynamics into another direction, and all seven of them delivered flawless (yet outrageously funny) characters working excellently together in this sparkling comedy.
As I would have expected from Mischief Theatre, much thought had gone into the set design (Fly Davis) who created (or at least recreated) the same room in three different ways depending on age and perspective (and of course the decade too).
Kisty Patrick-Ward's direction helped to allow individual characteristaiuons / characteristics to shine whilst creating a true ensemble piece of theatre where every actor both gave and took in equal measure. Fast-paced, with the realisms of long-lasting friendships, teenage angsts, and adult empty boasts; these easy-to-relate-to characters will be familiar to anyone over 30.
Slick, clever, and never putting a foot wrong, this is a first class comedy which will guarantee to have you laughing for days afterwards. It's not often I can leave a theatre with my head full of quotes from the play, still enjoying replaying them in my head. Bravo Mischief Theatre. I can't wait until I have the opportunity of seeing your next endeavour.
Slick, clever, and never putting a foot wrong, this is a first class comedy which will guarantee to have you laughing for days afterwards. It's not often I can leave a theatre with my head full of quotes from the play, still enjoying replaying them in my head. Bravo Mischief Theatre. I can't wait until I have the opportunity of seeing your next endeavour.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 23.8.21
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