Larger than life, zany, wild off the wall, just a little bit
different and undoubtedly world-class. (Review by Keith Millar)
The Hilton Arts Festival’s stated aim is to bring the pick
of South African Theatre to KwaZulu-Natal. Well, in the case to the superlative
production, Big Boys the Third, they
certainly hit the mark.
Follow Spot Productions enjoyed a very popular and
successful first visit to Hilton last year with their award winning, unique and
whacky dance/comedy show, Big Boys 2.
Following on that triumph, they returned this year with the third episode in
the madcap saga of Brad and Ash. This was much to the delight of festival-goers
who turned up in their hundreds and filled the huge marquee, which goes by the
misnomer of The Falcon Tent, to overflowing at both performances of the
production.
The charismatic Brad and Ash Searle, brothers both off and
on the stage, are prodigiously talented theatre practitioners. Their script is
belly-achingly funny and they deliver it with exquisite comedy timing. They are
gifted dancers and their use of AV and computer graphics is truly dazzling.
Such as when they dance with projected images of themselves.
Their use of sound and light is also fresh and innovative
and the technical operation of these aspects are both is slick and professional.
Big Boys the Third
is about the antics of the brothers as they wait at a hospital for Brad’s
girlfriend to have a baby. There are hilarious moments as they discuss the
girlfriend’s protractions (contractions) and how many centimetres she is
diluted (dilated). The scene in the delivery room where Brad repeatedly faints
is also very funny.
Of course, at the drop of a hat they will have a flashback to
their previous capers and that will result in them performing a highly
energetic, acrobatic and usually comic dance.
As usual Brad plays
the dumb brother and gets all the best lines while Ash is the slightly more
intelligent one. The gags keep coming – both verbal and physical – and one is
guaranteed to leave this show with sore ribs from laughing.
Big Boys the Third
is larger than life, zany, wild off the wall, just a little bit different and
undoubtedly world-class. A fact that was confirmed by a gentleman sitting with
me who has travelled widely and stated that he had not seen anything as
entertaining anywhere else.
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