by Martin Brisland.
This show is great fun – a straight sets victory!
The New Old Friends theatre company, based in Bath, serve up a classic court side comedy caper.
Written and directed by Feargus Woods Dunlop, the quick-witted Crimes on Centre Court is based on their award winning podcast called Comedy Whodunnits for Your Ears.
It is a ludicrous comedy murder mystery set against the backdrop of a top sporting competition. Since forming in 2008, New Old Friends have built a national reputation with their wildly inventive set pieces, twisty plots, deliberate over acting, corny cliches and love of unadulterated entertainment.
Lord Knows, the chair of the Whombledun International Tennis Tournament has died supposedly of natural causes. His son Hugh is suspicious and calls in private detectives Perry and Penny Pink to discover what has gone on behind the strawberries and cream. The club has financial problems and its land is being sought by property developers. This allows the cast of four to serve up a volley of gags, double entendre and puns. There is slow motion tennis with hawk-eye, physical comedy, some alliterative rap and barbershop style quartet singing.
Fred Riding’s inventive sound effects such as tennis balls being hit add depth. The excellent piano-driven score by Guy Hughes has some great comedic tunes that equal those by Tim Minchin or Victoria Wood.
The actors – Emile Clarke, Kirsty Cox, Katriona Brown and Ben Thornton cover twenty two characters. Clarke’s portrayal of Hugh Knows is pitched as a Hugh Grant with a touch of Boris Johnson and is perfect for the character. His ever more elaborate hairstyle is a running joke through the play.
There are some genuine comedy gold moments especially when Ben Thornton simulates going downstairs or using a lift. It is obvious that the cast are really enjoying themselves with this show.
This is not a play to stimulate critical thinking or for deep reflection on the human condition. This whodunnit is suitable for all age groups. The jokes will make you groan and laugh out loud in equal measure. Crimes on Centre Court is a fast paced piece of nonsense and laughter that will provide pure escapism for an evening from the complexities of modern life – game, set and match.
This was the first night of a two month national autumn tour. For more details check out newoldfriends.co.uk
The play is at the MAST Mayflower Studios until Saturday 9th September. Tickets from mayflowerstudios.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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