KEN CAMPBELL: HISTORY OF COMEDY PART I: VENTRILOQUISM: Touring
KEN CAMPBELL: HISTORY OF COMEDY PART I VENTRILOQUISM
Touring: (Info www.tentringer.co.uk: in our links)
Runs: 2h 20m, one interval
Review: Rod Dungate, 4 October 2003, at mac Birmingham
Inspired, a modern day Elizabethan Jester
This is inspired madness with serious undertones or is it inspired seriousness with madness undertow?
Campbell is a consummate storyteller. His HISTORY OF VENTRILOQUISM is a series of related events woven around the history of his relationship with the Plashwit siblings. He moves from childhood to adulthood. He ranges through episodes of 'nurse dogs' (it saves the need for baby nappies I gather), trying to find the unknown vowel in Epping which will cause the universe to disintegrate when uttered they were hoping to utter it and card tricks with a packet of sausages.
Into this rich tapestry Campbell also brings well, a history of ventriloquism: he demonstrates and has us all trying it out too. He's at his funniest when he's physical: his demonstration of gastromancy (summoning up spirits from the underworld) is totally inspired, wonderful, surprising and gob-smackingly interesting. These are moments when Campbell the clown comes to the fore: a present day Elizabethan jester, amusing us with his fooling but demonstrating telling insights into our world.
Campbell draws back sometimes: becomes more reflective. We have the impression that he's letting us into secrets he's revealing just for us. These can be surprisingly moving. He also brings out three marvellous ventriloquist dolls magic these are, and I'd have like to have seen more.
Wherever his path takes us, in this show, you are always aware of Campbell's fierce intelligence: he enables us to see our world in a new light. Ken Campbell is an acquired taste. But, just as with anchovies, Gentlemen's Relish and champagne, if you acquire the taste, your life is much, much richer. Is there a HISTORY OF COMEDY PART II to come?
Tour details (at present, but check the website www.tentringer.co.uk)
8/11/03 The Station Theatre Hayling Island
13/11/03 Chequer Mead Arts Centre East Grinstead)
2003-10-06 20:13:54