It is a sponsored article on behalf of Bleak Expectations.
For those who’re after an evening of rib-tickling, tear-inducing, delightfully foolish comedy, your eyes would possibly glide proper previous a reputation like “Bleak Expectations”. However that may be a grave error. As a result of this present is without doubt one of the funniest you may discover within the West Finish this spring.
Bleak Expectations is the Dickens parody you did not know you wanted. If it sounds acquainted, that is as a result of it began life as an award-winning BBC Radio 4 comedy — a send-up of novels like Nice Expectations and Bleak Home (therefore the title). Now, it has been reimagined for the stage — and a few very acquainted faces are getting concerned.
The present — on stage now at Criterion Theatre — follows the myriad misadventures of younger Pip Bin, future inventor of the garbage bin (discuss nominative determinism!). Collectively together with his sisters and finest pal Harry, Pip should dodge catastrophe at each flip, from escaping the clutches of dastardly Mr Gently Benevolent, to defeating the hideous Hardthrasher twins.
This boisterous bildungsroman is delivered to life by an ensemble solid, who’re joined by a special visitor star each week. Anticipate massive names from the worlds of comedy and leisure, who take turns enjoying the narrator — our hero as eminent older gent, Sir Philip Bin.
These particular friends stars embody Tom Allen, Adjoa Andoh, Alexander Armstrong, Jo Model, Julian Clary, Jack Dee, Stephen Fry, Nish Kumar, Lee Mack, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miller, Dermot O’Leary, Sue Perkins, and Sally Phillips.
However this elite line-up is not the one purpose to snap up tickets. Simply have a look at the a number of the reward the present garnered forward of its West Finish switch! The Occasions calls it “a wickedly creative parody of Victorian melodrama”, whereas The Guardian describes it as a present that “zings with intelligence, creativeness, and oodles of silliness”.
For those who’ve ever puzzled what sort of story Dickens would possibly’ve written after knocking again a bit an excessive amount of gin, that is the present for you. That stated, you do not have to be a fan of the author to get a kick out of it — Bleak Expectations is for anybody searching for a correctly entertaining night out within the coronary heart of theatreland.
Bleak Expectations is on stage now Criterion Theatre (Piccadilly). Ebook now!
