OUT OF OUR HEADS,Earl and Phayre, ATC, Touring till November

OUT OF OUR HEADS: Susan Earl and Janice Phayre
ATC on Tour
Runs: 1h 5m, no interval: Tours till November 2002
Information: 0207 735 8311: www.atc-online.com
Review: Rod Dungate, mac, Birmingham, 26 September 2002

Funny, clever, perceptive and delightfully dottyA most delightfully dotty performance. Susan Earl and Janice Phayre (performers and writers) have a background in sketch based comedy. In OUT OF OUR HEADS they've rolled a number of sharp sketch-like scenes together and created a satisfying whole. It's wild, whimsical and wicked.

The performers draw outrageously on what's around us (them) whether it be cheesy horror movies ('full of Americans who are so stupid'), keep fit (boob wobbling Australian) or straightforward paranoia to list but a few. The humour rolls freely and the satire at times sharp.

The story? I'll do my best . . . Susan and Janice are driving through the countryside one dark night, they are on their way to stop at a bed and breakfast. But the bed and breakfast when they get there (where did they get that wallpaper?) turns out to be full of parallel universes and passages that end up where they begin. But it turns out it's not a bed sit at all but Janice dealing with her guilt (or it might be the guilt dealing with Janice.) At this point in the show some brilliantly witty use of TV screens.

My favourites among the motley crew this pair conjure up Janice's attempt to follow taped advice on how to attract men on the dance floor, Susan's pissed night-club singer and a TV addict of a nun Lord bless her.

Two funny, clever and perceptive women, these. And the great success of the performance lies not just in the wit of the script but in the fun of trying to follow the twists, turns and absolute upheavals in their thought processes.

Written and performed by
Susan Earl
Janice Phayre

Director: Gordon Anderson
Designer: Sigyn Stenqvist
Lighting: Mark Doubleday
Sound: Mick Manning
Video: Owen Oppenheimer

2002-09-27 08:52:58