As a huge Mischief fan, The Comedy About Spies became one of my most anticipated shows of this year. Making audiences laugh for over ten years including the Goes Wrong franchise (set to return later this year with A Christmas Carol) and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, are Mischief back stronger than ever or is this one destined to go wrong – for the wrong reasons?
I was gifted a press ticket in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
- Bernard Wright: Henry Shields
- Douglas Woodbead: Henry Lewis
- Lance Buchanan: Dave Hearn
- Rosemary Wilson: Adele James
- Janet Buchanan: Nancy Zammit
- Sergei Ivanov: Chris Leask
- Elena Popov: Charlie Russell
- Alfred Tipton: Greg Tanahill
Rating: ★★★★★
What is The Comedy About Spies about?
The Comedy About Spies tells the uproariously funny tale of a rogue British agent who steals the plans for a brand-new weapon. When CIA and KGB agents meet at London’s Piccadilly Hotel, a series of botched missions and mistaken identities begins. The high-stakes caper reaches a boiling point when a young couple and an actor auditioning for the James Bond film check into the hotel.
What are my thoughts on The Comedy About Spies?
Attending rehearsals and interviewing the cast, the one constant when getting into why fans should see The Comedy About Spies was it was Mischief’s most ambitious show so far. With that in mind, I’m happy to say the show more than blew away my expectations.
Every element you can think of in a Mischief show is cranked up to a thousand in The Comedy About Spies, yet it doesn’t neglect the charm we know. A genre rife for parody, Henry Shields and Henry Lewis’ script wholeheartedly embraces 1960’s espionage tropes with a heavy dose of Fawlty Towers-esque wit and slapstick. The silliest yet simplest of word play can elicit belly laughs – the opening sequence involving spies’ code names as letters quickly goes into disarray- yet you’re still on the edge of your seat figuring out who the inevitable mole could be (as Janet says it’s the one you mid expect) between bodies being flung out of windows, haemorrhoid cream commercials and intercepted steaks.
What really elevates The Comedy About Spies is David Farley’s set design. Mainly taking place in the Piccadilly Hotel, its slick art deco lobby makes way for an inventive doll house with four colourful rooms offering plenty of opportunities for gags – one in particular that was flawless (or was that floor-less?). Shelley Maxwell’s movement direction sleekly executes a series of madcap gag-a-second chase sequences, Greg Tannahill also contributing to equally as hilarious fight sequences. Keeping all the above together is Matt DiCarlo’s razor sharp direction, making sure the jokes come in thick and quick.
What’s the cast like?
With many original Mischief members returning, it’s a delight seeing them together onstage for the first time in a while. Sharing a special chemistry it’s like watching a group of friends reunite where everything yet nothing has changed – this time playing characters who are a far cry from the ones we know in the Goes Wrong universe.
Henry Shields brings dorkish charm as Tadworth baker Bernard mistaking the CIA and KGB for bakery organisations while embroiled in the insanity. Henry Lewis is full of grandiosity as pompous thespian (and King Lear at the National Theatre bookshop) Douglas Woodbead auditioning for 007 (‘oooh 7) James Bond – up against a Scot called Sean no less. Charlie Russell and Chris Leask are a delightful duo as Russian spies Elena and Sergei, one more icy and laser-focused while the other gets lost in creating an increasingly ludicrous backstory for his British alter ego.
Dave Hearn is full of machismo as American spy Lance Buchanan tossing potentially exploding bottles of Shiraz out of windows compared to Nancy Zamit’s doting mother and former spy Janet. Greg Tannahill brings plenty of humour as hapless hotel manager Mr. Tipton getting his head around all the chaos. Adele James makes a confident Mischief debut as Bernard’s straight-laced girlfriend Rosemary.
What are my overall thoughts?
A delightfully daft show filled to the brim with laughs, I dare say that The Comedy About Spies is among Mischief Theatre’s best works. Carrying the charm that Mischief fans will love and newcomers will quickly get on board with while reinventing the wheel, I hope they will keep on making audiences laugh for another ten years.
The Comedy About Spies runs at the Noel Coward Theatre until September 05.
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