Preview

Slapstick has a serious side

OTTC tackle another demanding production

Nudity, swear words and the timing skills of TV comedians are essential ingredients of Dead Funny, the latest challenge taken up by a Swindon drama group.

The Old Town Theatre Company (OTTC) are no strangers to controversial plays - Strippers caused a sensation in the town a few years ago.

But Dead Funny, written by Terry Johnson, although an apparent vehicle for slapstick and toilet humour, is actually a fast and witty farce.

"It is the play we wanted to do last year but couldn't cast properly", said Lance Hodges, who plays Brian.

"It had just come off the professional circuit and involves taking off the skills of comedians such as Benny Hill, Frankie Howerd and Max Miller."

The heartbreaking plot in the award-winning play is set around The Dead Funny Society who throw a wake for Benny Hill when he dies.

Many of Benny's TV shows smacked of ribald restoration comedies and Dead Funny echoes that genre.

It is strictly for adults as the threads running through the plot evoke jokes about impotence, sex therapy and the very colourful side of the English sense of humour.

Lance said that it was quite a challenge to imitate these comedy fanatics taking off their favourite comedians.

"We are acting as them acting as the comics," he said. "Every one of us has to do one."

Julian Smith, the director, also had fun working out the choreography of the custard pie fight.

"It is all down to timing," said Lance, who is joined in the play by Nicola de Iongh, Wendy Vickery, Ashley Heath, and Sebastian Reece.

Flicky Harrison - The Evening Advertiser