EXTRAVAGANZA
Speaking in a faux European accent, Nick Bunt from Le Navet Bete (possible translation: The Bad-tempered Turnip) theatre group from Exeter, welcomed and ushered people to their seats at the Brewery Theatre before the start of a night of severe silliness. The show Extravaganza fulfilled the dictionary definition of the word – a concoction of circus, mime and music hall with a hint of burlesque, this troupe from Exeter was a muscular antidote to blandness.
Suddenly we were off! With adrenalin escaping from every pore Bunt attempted to spit out the virtues of the land of Guggenheimsteindorf, (at least, that’s what I thought I heard), a country whose very name could flatten the pint in Nigel Farage’s hand, and whose main export apparently was pipe lagging.
A classic ‘straight man’ ploy, we were of course being set up to enjoy the barmy antics of the other three clowns in the act who did their best to upset the earnest diatribe. Welcome to the wacky world of David, Hans, Keith, and Romano Blooper!
The youngest members of the audience were in stitches as trays battered heads, quiches did bad things to faces, and possessions from the audience were thrust down trousers. Other nonsense followed with the help of bananas, water and a miniature piano. Perhaps this lot could win the Eurovision song contest with their zany musicality. Some awful singing with frantic electrified ukulele accompaniment could be just the thing to give L’Angleterre douze points.
Bete delivered some serious clowning – our bowler-hatted maître d’ was thrust high into the air on a crazily swinging ladder, and ‘David’ wobbled on a unicycle tall enough to feel the heat from the ceiling lights. But there were other, darker qualities. A human ventriloquist’s dummy sketch was eerily funny, and there was an awkward moment of pathos as an unfortunate member of the audience, spotted because of a late arrival, was serenaded tearfully. What gives these guys the edge is that they can pull a great face when they want to – Alex Dunn in particular can show a cracking row of side teeth with a snaking smile.
Le Navet Bete likes to play up the invented jealousies between the players; after all, it’s a great excuse for violence. It feels as if we have been thrust into a demented playground as Bunt, Matt Freeman, Dan Bianchi and the gurning Alex Dunn either beat the hell out of each other or race about like the house is on fire. ‘Ealth n’ safety be damned! Rockets fire from unicycles, spew issues from cans, and before we leave there will be one final… well, that would be telling wouldn’t it!
It’s high-octane manic stuff – Pythonesque, Chaplinesque… maybe just good knockabout. This audience lapped it up. Is it deep? No. Is it fun? Yes! ★★★☆☆ Simon Bishop
