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Far Too Happy
On the 20th anniversary of their Perrier-winning production, Footlights presents a show explaining why happiness is hard to find.
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Original Review:
The Footlights gang have been nothing if not ambitious with this year's show. Themed sketches, interlinked by the recurring character of Death - who turns out to be a mild-mannered Welshman with repressed homosexual leanings - provide a depth and a suitably theatrical feel to the whole proceedings. All in all, this clever show is impressively well-constructed, brilliantly staged and almost perfectly acted. There are nice ideas at play, and the array of young characters is pretty spot-on. In fact, there's only one real problem. No laughs. For while there is an undercurrent of dry wit, it's an ambience rather than anything more substantial. Were this a piece of theatre, that would be fine, but since it calls itself comedy, would it be too much to ask for more than the odd wry smile? But you can't help but get the impression that this is one of those shows which feels that laughter would be beneath it. Just some cheap way of pandering to an audience. The team seems too busy shouting 'look at our talents' to employ them to maximum comedy effect. But if they could just get over themselves and focus their undeniable skills on forming some actual humour then they could really be onto something. |
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This is a fantastic show. The comment from Ben (below) is just the kind of crap the Footlights have to put up with all the time, someone thinking they can review a show they've not even seen, basing thier opinions on this one review on this site from a reviewer who obviously didn't see it the night I did when the audience were in hysterics. Though I can imagine that the usual Footlights middle-aged groupies might not have taken to it, so maybe some nights didn't seem as good. Kat (below again), it's inevitable that you'll look back on your own time in Cambridge with a fond sigh but here's some facts for you, John and Richard wrote Grimm Fairy Tales which was been described as the worst show at the ADC ever by a number of people I know. No doubt that's an unfair review as well, but then that's what the Footlights always gets, always being compared to past golden eras which never really existed. And as for immature, this is a show where the cast had obviously written about things they knew, about being young. Looking at relationships and death and happiness from a young perspective isn't immature, last year's show throwing bras around is immature. This is the best show I have ever seen from Cambridge and there wasn't a show on the fringe I laughed at more. This is a great show, well done to everyone in it and hurray for the Best Newcomer Nomination! Entirely deserved. Bell, September 2001 |
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Haven't seen this show, but I have seen the last two Footlights shows at their home venue, the ADC. From this review it seems they're sticking to the theme of producing a show which features real talent but no laughter. However, it always seems to make my fellow Cantabrigians laugh, so maybe this is why they consider the shows comedy when really they aren't that funny. Ben, September 2001 |
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A thoroughly disappointing show, which seemed like a few sketches from a drama club. I see the Footlights every year and this is the worst I've seen in many years. The cast has no comedians - just actors trying to be funny. The only cast member who seemed like he might go on to something meaningful was the Welsh Death figure, who looks like a smaller version of John Oliver. Almost. (Sorry, not sure what his name is.) This was immature desperate comedy where the Footlights, for the first time in a few years, thought they were far funnier and more talented than they really were. This show made me long for the classic days of just a few years ago, when Richard Ayoade and John Oliver were a part of some of the best Footlights shows ever made. Bring back the real comedians! Kat, August 2001 |
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I think Mark Watson's bloody gorgeous! Giulia Galastro, August 2001 |
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I can't believe this show has had so few reviews, I loved it. It's was a wonderfully observed look at a life that, being a student, I really recognised. The performances were fantastic and the understated style made me laugh more than at all the loud, self-congratulating stand ups I've seen so far. It's a shame that the aging audience looked like they only wanted to see Stephen Fry and jokes about being old. Luke Walsall, August 2001 |
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