It is well documented that on board the ship taking them to America, a chance meeting between old friends / rivals Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel (or Stanley Jefferson as he was then) took place, and thier relationship (as performers) has become known as the greatest double-act that never was! What isn't documented however is what actually took place during that meeting. Enter 'Told By An Idiot' Theatre Company, as they try, at least in part, to imagine that encounter.
The set was impressive and cleverly designed. Ideal for touring - compact and multi-purpose. And yet there wasn't an inch of the set that wasn't utilised to its full capacity, including the errant seagull! The sound levels for the opening music prior to the start of the production as we were entering the auditorium were too high, but thankfully were turned down to an acceptable volume once the production proper started.
The tale was told in the style of the silent cinema. Live music (piano and percussion) were provided throughout by members of the ensemble Sara Alexander and Nick Haverson. A brilliant idea which worked excellently, bringing hunour into the piece by actor interaction with their musical accompaniment [not an original idea by any means, but a good one].
With the aid of flashbacks (and even one flash-forward), a more rounded version of that voyage and their meeting was presented. Most of the ideas worked superbly, and all were in keeping with the presentational style and humour of the era. I loved all the physicality and slapstick. There was one thing however which, for me at least, jarred and spoilt the lovely illusion created. And this was their use of contemporary face masks and hand sanitiser. I didn't understand why the cast needed to wear masks at the beginning of the show, nor did I understand the necessity for them to interact with the audience and bring audience members on stage. This would have worked, and worked brilliantly, prior to the covid outbreak, and hopefully, one day soon, it will do so again; however, under the present way of working these short vignettes, which had no bearing at all on the overall story, could easily have been cut and alternative routines found. They had no place on board a steam liner heading for America in 1910!
The cast however were a joy. Their characters / characteristions instantly recognisable. Charlie Chaplin (Danielle Bird) was dressed a la Tramp, but before the character was developed, but her gait and expressions were pure Chaplin. Jerone Marsh-Reid was Stan Laurel, and his physicality seemed to know no bounds. Again, recognisable as his character through trademark expressions and the scratching of his head when a little bemused. Nick Haverson however, didn't just play the drums and play the part of Chaplin's father, but also took on two other pivotal roles within the production, morphing cleverly and instantly recognisably from Frank Karno, (the theatre impressario and 'inventor' of slapstick, who at one time employed Charlie Chaplin and his undertsudy, Stanley Jefferson) into a very creditable Oliver Hardy.
If you are a fan of the silent cinema genre, or even just happen to have a passing interest in silent comedy and some of its greatest exponents, then you will love this production.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 13.9.21
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