If you want to make your parents immensely uncomfortable, drag them along to some experimental comedy. That’s what I did on 5th November. While everybody else was watching the fireworks explode above head, I was watching my parents shy away into their seats. My choice of inflicting discomfort to my parents was Twisted Loaf’s production at Soho Theatre. All of the basic ingredients for an uncomfortable evening were present. Stripping? Check. Thrusting their groins in the direction/ faces of members of the audience? Check (that’s the actors, not my parents). Heck, there was even a scene when someone nearly had sex with someone nearly dead. I know- it doesn’t get sexier than necrophilia.
As I took my, very cramped, seat in the miniscule theatre I was excited to hear a rendition of Radiohead’s creep. An undeniably legendary tune. However, this rendition was alarmingly being played acoustically. The song was a good start, but made me question what I was in for…
An entrance and a half
Much to my dismay, an actress proceeded to clamber in through a ‘window’. While this window was really just a gap in the set. Not the entrance I was expecting. With my parents in the audience, I was worried it could have given someone as old as them a heart attack. In comparison to the rest of the piece/ performance/ experience/ oddity this appeared a mild thing to do.
Dangerous attire
Dressed in leggings yanked up to a height that could result in the need for a trip to a gynaecologist, the actress showed no intention of speech. My mum later commended her on her miming, while my father groaned and brother looked bemused, if not a little confused. 5 minutes in, and after many false starts and teases of speech, I grew impatient. While the atmosphere was created with a craft of genius it was also completely excruciating. And slightly annoying. 22 mins in (not that I was checking my watch regularly…) the audience were blessed with our first gem. “Horses”.
Mounting what exactly
With flashes of brilliance, and an avant guard take on the boundaries of what is and is not acceptable, it made for an interesting piece. There was a tremendous versatility of accents and an interesting take on different aspects of British society. A particular strong point in my opinion was their horsey Sloane act, although had I hailed from SW3, I would have taken great offense. Kudos for the on-point accents and fab innuendo. As they ‘rode their horses’ one announced that she’d “arrived” while another followed by saying she was “coming”. Crude, I know. Now imagine hearing that while your mum chuckles next to you.
Taking a hint from TOWIE
They also juiced the common stereotype of a simpleton, with great hair, from Essex. However, as seen with the large fan base of TV show ‘The Only Way Is Essex’, people lap up an impressive impression of an Essex girl. While it may seem slightly classist, this got an even bigger rapture of laughter than it’s prior posh bout of impressions.
Overall, the piece was both genius and awful- depending on what you are looking for. If you want to be left shaking your head with raised brows, a drooping jaw and the question of whether the last joke was PC or not, then this is the piece for you.
