Navet Bete and John Nicholson
The Lowry, Salford
September 24-28, 2024
Le Navet Bete? What’s that ? A posh French restaurant? A film by Godard? No, it’s (literally) a "daft turnip".
Which sums up the riot that is King Arthur.
Three mates – Al Dunn, Matt Freeman and Nick Bunt – put on an all-action, all-fun, all-craziness night at the Lowry. Think Horrible Histories for adults (though adults as young as seven will love this). Think of the best panto you have seen and double it.
From the first meeting with the three stooges in the stocks at Camelot, singing "I want to break free", to the end, when you realise the Arthurian legends are based on mistakes and gender fluidity, this generous offering meets every expectation for fun.
Writer and co-director John Nicholson identifies his roots as classic TV comedies such as Fawlty Towers.
But he probably also listened to the steam radio productions of the 1970s, such as I’m Sorry I’ll Read
That Again, to get an idea of the pace required for great slapstick writing. Which this is.
The physical demands on the three cast members - or is that 33? - are astonishing; 90 changes of
clothes in the two hours; an innumerable number of pratfalls, and plenty of in one door, out the other side of the stage runs leads us to think they must have stage doubles. Only the puffing and sweat on the collective brow shows otherwise.
An unusual credit is for sound effects: Stuart Billinghurst should take a bow, because when the mock fights take place, not only are the actors technically impressive but the "boings" from the various
instruments adds physically to the impact.
I went expecting to suffer for my reviews, but came away suffering from laughing so often.
More info and tickets here
