The year is 1948, and the location is Malaya – the perfect setting for Peter Nichols’ hilarious 1977 play with music. And Robert Readman’s Pick Me Up Theatre have taken on the challenge of bringing it to life, here at the John Cooper Studio @41 Monkgate.
One of the many things that’s always prevalent in a Pick Me Up production, is the way that the theatre is set out. It’s not just about a fancy backdrop or an elaborate set design – the theatre really does become a part of the show.
When you arrive at 41 Monkgate the atmosphere hits you as soon as you walk up the stairs. You’re no longer in the wet and dreary streets of York – you’re in the jungle. Turn through the doors into the Studio itself, and you’re greeted by a fully-stocked bar, and an array of seats staggered under leaves, lights and trees. You really are in. The. Jungle.
Within minutes of the show beginning, Corporal Len Bonney (Andrew Isherwood) makes it very clear that this is certainly not a family show. Nervous giggles fill the audience as the worst words in the English language are scattered left, right and centre. However, as someone that doesn’t feel it’s necessary to swear for something to be funny, Isherwood’s strong portrayal of the simple-minded Len allows for some forgiveness – and I did genuinely laugh.
The show goes from zero-to-camp (and I’m talking rows-of-tents camp – maybe even Glastonbury levels of camp) very quickly. The naive Private Steven Flowers (James Potter) sits among the audience as we’re treated to a hilarious show, led by Acting Captain Terri Dennis (Rory Mulvihill), from the Song and Dance Unit South East Asia – a unit whose job is to entertain the troops trying to keep some 5,000 Chinese communist guerrillas at bay.
Being entertained, this audience certainly is – and it has to be said that the standards of performance from Andrew Caley, Paul Joe Osborne, and Rory Mulvihill are absolutely phenomenal. In my humble opinion, in theatre, there are two definitions for the word ‘professional’. One is the literal form of receiving monies to carry out a performance. The other is to portray such an incredible talent through said performance that it would be wrong for the actor to be described as anything less. And, while this is an ‘amateur’ theatre company, these three stunning actors are quite frankly nothing less than professional.
The songs must also be mentioned. While this is a ‘play with music’ instead of a full-blown musical, the songs are catchy and in-keeping with the feel of the show. You can tell where some of the cast are slightly less comfortable with the concept of singing and dancing than they are with acting – but this just makes everything feel more authentic and raw.
So what can you expect if you get your hands on tickets to Privates on Parade? Expect to laugh. Lots. Expect to be genuinely awestruck by the cast, props, and staging. Expect surprises (oxymoron? What oxymoron?). Just make sure you don’t miss it.
Privates on Parade runs daily at 7.30pm at the John Cooper Studio @41 Monkgate. Click here to book.
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