The Ray Harryhausen Skeleton Orchestra. Town Hall Tavern. 26.7.13

Ok, what have I just seen?

The Ray Harryhausen Skeleton orchestra could be called a shambolic mess saved by a couple of sketches, but I think what I really saw was a work in progress. The RHSO is an ensemble of comic actors working with new and emerging comedy writers and should be treated accordingly.

There is a dark acid humour at work here and when it’s coherent it works in sketches like ‘Twix’ and, to lesser extent ‘Shopping spree’. Lighter moments come in the ‘Pound shop’ and the ‘Bee Keeper’ and the show is better for it. Then there is the silliness of the ‘Bankrobber’ and the ‘After all these years’. The running gag of the ‘Dark Warrior Call Centre’ is fine but probably only applicable if you work in a call centre or IT.

 These are comments more about the writers than the cast who cope manfully with the material. Jess Lee gives a great performance and Steve Cain is, er, unsettling as Lord Doorcrush  in the aforementioned ‘Dark warrior’. Howard Whittock shines throughout but especially in ‘The Unimpressed Astronaut’ which he also wrote.

So,a work in progress but one worth watching and sticking with as it may really come to something, it’s one for the adventurous mind. 




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