TRIPLE ESPRESSO.

London

TRIPLE EXPRESSO
by Bill Arnold, Michael Pearce Donley and Bob Stromberg. Music by Michael Pearce Donley

Arts Theatre
Mon-Fri 7.30pm Sat 4pm & 8pm Mat Tue 3pm
Runs 2hr 15min One interval

TICKETS 020 7836 3334
Review Timothy Ramsden 21 January 2003

A 'highly caffeinated comedy' that's a barrel of laughs.No wonder if this c mid-90s good idea has become an early C21 comedy phenomenon. Three performers of diverse stage appearance and personality, complement - if rarely compliment – each other in a crazy, unique, rib-tickling, side-splitting, feature-deforming hoot - so good even the few merely adequate moments may have been inserted to allow audiences a slight respite from hilarity.

After 25 years as the bum on the piano seat in the Triple Espresso café-teria, Hugh Butternut celebrates with mum and dad, former teacher and partner (if you don't fancy hitting the spotlight in these roles keep off the front rows). Then there are his old stage partners, Bob Stromberg's munster-sized, ever-beaming Bobby and Bill Arnold's Buzz, an expressionless pile of resentment who'd clearly rather be any place else than where he is.

As they travel through the triumphs and embarrassments (well, just embarrassments really) of their days and nights together, the speed and accomplishment of the trio almost disguises that the circumstantial storyline's there to let each performer do their speciality turn.

For Donley, this is music, parodying the ingratiating lounge-pianist's manner. For Stromberg, it's physical dexterity. The Grand Canyon-smile's just wearing thin when he veers into one of the show's highlights, his head seeming to take on a separate physical existence – first jutting from side to side then setting firm, stubbornly sticking motionless in mid-air as his whole body gyrates around it - fine preparation for his (slightly over-extended) gorilla act.

But the main threat to physical stability, mental sanity and most of the muscles within reach of the mouth, comes with Arnold's eruption from downbeat gloom-merchant into a magic act of stupefying inanity. Slowly the tricks become convincing, only to be subverted by giveaway follow-ups. You have to feel, though, for the poor audience member guided towards the card Arnold wants him to select by means of a blowtorch.

And you have to admire Stromberg's shadow-play (true vaudeville novelty act). And the climactic – so to speak – nude dance the trio treat us to: the most fun you can imagine with their clothes on.

But see for yourself. And don't wait: cities worldwide are queuing up to see these guys.

Hugh Butternut: Michael Pearce Donley
Bobby Bean: Bob Stromberg
Buzz Maxwell: Bill Arnold

Director: William Partlan
Designer: Nayna Ramey
Lighting: Michael Klaers
Sound: John Markiewicz
Costume: Kathleen Egan

2003-01-22 02:01:29