The Giggles

The Giggles 13th - 14th August 2007, performed at St Paul's Grammar School Directed and created by: Olivia Bush, Amanda Diaz, Alex Pemberton, and Chris Smith The Giggles - devised and created solely by four year 12 IB Theatre Arts students is a comedic piece of theatre that had the audience in tears. It is the story of four hungover TV children's entertainers all vowing for a premotion. However after trying too hard, they ultimatley undo their prestigious careers and all find themselves sacked. After viewing two performances quite some time ago, I have yet to watch a more entertaining play. Consisting of only four actors/actresses, and lasting for only ten minutes, The Giggles use witty one-liners, that would get a laugh out of even the most serious of people. All four actors created different, yet clever characters that once thrown together created a mix of stupidity, humour, that ultimately led to all age fun. From the moment it started I knew I was going to enjoy it. Less than a minute in and most of the audience were already rolling around with laughter. I was waiting for the moment when all the jokes would be over but it never came. From the time I started laughing I never stopped until 5 minutes after the blackout when I realised the performance had ended quite some time ago. The stupidity was evident through such skits as mistaking fairy bread sprinkles with Jack Daniels bourbon - something that sounds bizarre and strange and doesn't even make much sense. However throw into context the power of these four young talented performers and it generated a laughter beyond thunderous. From the start to the end, Tracey, Monica, Glen, and Tyler took the audience on a wild ride through the land of mediocre day time TV that had even the crew cackling with laughter. Whats more is these four young students created this piece all themselves. From the directing, blocking, dialogue, costuming, lighting design, and even slide design, the four had a say in it all. Comic timing was accurate and played a key role in the humour of this piece. The only negative point being some dialogue went unheard due to the intense laughter from the audience. Seeing it twice helped me hear what went unheard in the first performance. I am currently teaching middle school drama, and I can't wait to share this experience with my classes. It took just one performance to change my entire view on the hilariousness of 'slapstick' theatre. When performed well it creates an experience far more powerful then words can describe. The Giggles was an outstanding piece of theatre that I wish could have run for more then two performances. They were recieved on both nights with a roaring applause as they left even my mother in tears (which is a rarity if I dare say). They accomodated for all ages - children right through to grandparents, and recieved the same reaction by all. The four performers are to be congratulated and commended on their performances, and I am in hope that one day soon I may see them performing again.