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The environment was electrical as we entered the Massive Theatre at Southwark Playhouse Borough for Alex Hill’s Why I Caught A Flare Up My Arse For England, a one man present about an intrepid England fan whose drunken antics make him a nationwide sensation. In a bombastic opening, Hill struts onto stage, proclaiming the glory of free expression that’s soccer revelry and singing ‘Vindaloo’ by Fats Les. He completely evokes the match day fever that turns into a nationwide occasion when England play. This units the scene for a riotous story about laddish antics that go too far. The…
Score
Wonderful
A hilarious celebration of laddish soccer revelry that exposes the human tragedy behind an notorious pratfall.
The environment was electrical as we entered the Massive Theatre at Southwark Playhouse Borough for Alex Hill’s Why I Caught A Flare Up My Arse For England, a one man present about an intrepid England fan whose drunken antics make him a nationwide sensation. In a bombastic opening, Hill struts onto stage, proclaiming the glory of free expression that’s soccer revelry and singing ‘Vindaloo’ by Fats Les. He completely evokes the match day fever that turns into a nationwide occasion when England play. This units the scene for a riotous story about laddish antics that go too far.
The title alludes to an precise occasion that came about earlier than the Euro 2020 closing of England vs Italy. Hill has created a hilarious unique present that makes use of this notorious episode as a leaping off level to inform a surprisingly poignant story about soccer, friendship and the way life can spiral uncontrolled.
The present begins with an ode to soccer and male friendship that illuminates how the gorgeous sport can convey folks collectively and forge lasting bonds. In just a few fast, humorous scenes we meet Billy, whose youthful vitality and everyman persona we join with. We’re easily launched to his life and his love of soccer, which is the muse of his friendship along with his greatest mate Adam.
Hill’s charisma is fascinating. Whether or not he’s delivering laddish comedy or a sombre monologue about Billy’s friendship with Adam, he brings actual humanity to his efficiency. Hill can also be nice at shifting between a number of characters in a scene, giving all of them recognisable identities.
The present makes use of minimal staging – just a few props and a backdrop of England flags, lighting and sound results – to maneuver shortly by way of many scenes and areas, while sustaining the cohesion of the story.
Hill shifts seamlessly from comedy to drama as Billy’s story darkens. He seeks to impress a bunch of soccer hooligans. His friendship with Adam suffers. Laddish pratfalls give method to heavy ingesting, exhausting medication and escalating violence. The acquainted decline plot construction is used effectively to point out how Billy’s enthusiasm for soccer and his need to be accepted by his male friends alienates him from Adam.
The essential second of Billy sticking a flare up his arse is dramatised twice. Firstly, as comedic within the energetic opening, however then as unhappy when revisited. It’s a testomony to Hill’s writing and efficiency that he turns what was as soon as humorous right into a second of pathos, revealing that Billy has turn out to be a pitiable consideration seeker, wanting the approval of his doubtful male friends.
The ultimate moments of the present swerve in direction of darkness, as tragedy strikes however Billy is misplaced in a world of extra. Hill delivers this tonal shift deftly, exhibiting the true life penalties of being caught up in infantile antics and neglecting a cherished friendship. As an alternative of delivering a closing joke, the present is all of the stronger for ending on a poignant notice.
I didn’t know what to anticipate from a present known as Why I Caught A Flare Up My Arse For England (past the plain) however I didn’t count on the ending to be powerfully melancholy. Packing an emotional punch right into a comedic play reveals Hill’s expertise as a author and performer. It additionally reveals that behind the laddish stunt there’s a actual particular person, and bringing this humanity to the entrance made this present each humorous and transferring.
Written and carried out by: Alex Hill
Directed by: Sean Turner
Design by: Joel Clements
Lighting design by: Matt Cater
Sound design by: Sam Baxter
Produced by: Joshua Beaumont and Matthew Emeny for Roxy Canine
Why I Caught A Flare Up My Arse For England performs at Southwark Playhouse till 4 Could. Additional data and bookings could be discovered right here.
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