Review: GARRY STARR: CLASSIC PENGUINS, The Other Palace
Some shows are made to be seen again and again. Some shows are thought-provoking, rousing feats of wonder and bemusement, and some shows leave you wanting more. Garry Starr: Classic Penguins manages to accomplish almost every emotion imaginable in such a short span of time. A barrage of jokes and visual humour that leaves you wanting more. As the books decrease on the shelf, you're aware of a finite amount of time spent in this zany space.
Garry Starr: Classic Penguins is a show like no other. One man's, or should I say penguin's, odyssey to single handedly save books and literature by performing 'every single' Penguin Classic. The journey the audience are taken on is nothing short of mesmerising. The pure unadulterated energy and commitment that Damien Warren-Smith throws at the hour-long production must be heralded.
To delve too deep into the content of Garry Starr: Classic Penguins would not only ruin the surprise, but would also do an utter disservice to the joy to be witnessed at The Other Palace. What can be said is that no book is safe. From The Grapes of Wrath to Holding Men, no classic is left untouched. We are treated to an onslaught of physical comedy, gross-out humour, prop gags and clever wordplay to extract laughs from the most up for it audience imaginable. The heaviest of lifting is undertaken by the physical aspect.
And up for it they were. 'Garry Elizabeth Starr' unleashes a whole manner of tactics to make the audience a huge part of the show. They join in his anarchy of joy by becoming, to name but three, a baby bird, Dr.Frankenstein and even an, ahem, 'treasure hunter', all whilst being beckoned onto stage with purrs of 'wanna have a play, sausage?'.
As large of a part of the show that the audience are, the glue is Damien Warren-Smith and his perfect clowning and metamorphosis into this relentless performer who will cross every boundary to re-enact these classic works. The innocent way in which he is introduced, paired with the simple waddle across the stage in the opening moments, are all that is needed to show just what type of show this will be, and set the audience up for an exhilarating journey.
The manner in which he swipes away the books as he is finished with them and moves on quickly to the next one is a testament to the sharpness of the script. Each book tends to either reference or become a part of the next scene. The unstoppable pace of gags leaves you helpless in this bonkers world of literary lunacy.
The overall production is well-paced, clean and fluid with the jokes always landing and contantly creating a fresh element that keeps you on your toes. If you want to truly enjoy the hour of riotous entertainment then please leave any inhibitions or preconceived notions of a night at the theatre in the foyer and prepare to be truly blown away by one man's quest to save all of literature.
Garry Starr: Classic Penguins is truly a singular experience. This blisteringly barmy bonanza is a spectacle of non-stop laughter and joy. Sell your books, trade them, do anything that brings you closer to witness this astoundingly original treat.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: James Springthorpe
Photo credit: Austin Ruffer
Garry Starr: Classic Penguins plays at The Other Palace until 3 January, with further info here: