The trial of Wild Gil Hiccup
Sun, 4 Sept 2011, 12:30 pmGordon the Optom2 posts in thread
The trial of Wild Gil Hiccup
Sun, 4 Sept 2011, 12:30 pm
It is the town of Slimy Gulch, the Wild West at its wildest. Wild Gil Hiccup has been charged with killing 303 men and is now in court – the local saloon – where the jury, the audience, is hearing the case against him. The evidence is presented to Judge Hammerstein (John Davidson) by the counsel for the prosecution, Hyatt Twerp (Tim Prosser) and the defence lawyer, Jesse Janes (Tony Clarke). The Clerk of the Court, Otis (Braye Dial) also has a second backbreaking job, keeping the sexually frustrated girls of the town satisfied.
The witnesses were a weird bunch with amusing and very varied characters. The gorgeous randy sisters, Amy-Lou (Rachael Maher) and Mary-Jean (Althea Bevilacqua), the inept Deputy Dorg (Shaun Griffin) and the man who single-handed captured Wild Gil (Peter King). The final witness was the Indian Chief, Sheeska Bob (Marcelle Weber) owner of the local store and restaurant, with a hilarious script.
A last minute character witness for the accused was Lim Too Tan Maid (Rachael Maher) who brought the house down with her broken Engrish, sorry English, and lack of comprehension.
Will this hardened criminal escape justice? The decision was left us, the audience jury, whether or not this man dies by the rope.
I first saw this comedy more than three years ago at the Old Mill in South Perth. It was funny then, but this new version has been edited and is a much more professional script, although a little more thinning out in the first quarter would help. It is filled with jovial anachronisms e.g. multinovas on the highway, double-entendres by the score and many references to 60s and 70s pop tunes are blended into the script. It may help if the cast half sing some of these phrases to emphasise the joke.
In the second two thirds, the pace was very good, the cast very well directed and rehearsed (Hywel Williams and assistant director Piera West).
The foyer was adornd with Wild West objects, cartwheels, bales of straw and numerous ‘Wanted’ posters. The saloon set was most convincing, with all the extras. The costumes were straight from a film set, well above average – the girls’ stunning and sexy outfits were brilliant. The sound and lighting were also well above average.
There was a lot of new talent on the cast list. Braye as the laidback Otis, the white barman who thought that he was a black African had a natural flow of mannerisms. The legal teams were most convincing. The whole show picked up when the witnesses appeared. The cast was wonderful with excellent rapport and great timing, but I am sure that they won’t mind my making special mention of Marcelle as the Indian, and Rachael in her two roles as the saloon whore and the Chinese hotel maid. Rachael appeared as the lead in ‘The Miracle Worker’ and now here, in only her second major role (?), she has proved herself in a completely different genre with perfect comedic delivery. Outstanding.
Extremely clever and funny, original style of script. Great characters, captured well by the actors. If you are worried about political correctness and the odd lewd comment then this may not be for you, however last night’s audience came dressed in cowboy outfits and really enjoyed it.
Pheonix’s most professional comedy yet.
It is the town of Slimy Gulch, the Wild West at its wildest. Wild Gil Hiccup has been charged with killing 303 men and is now in court – the local saloon – where the jury, the audience, is hearing the case against him. The evidence is presented to Judge Hammerstein (John Davidson) by the counsel for the prosecution, Hyatt Twerp (Tim Prosser) and the defence lawyer, Jesse Janes (Tony Clarke). The Clerk of the Court, Otis (Braye Dial) also has a second backbreaking job, keeping the sexually frustrated girls of the town satisfied.
The witnesses were a weird bunch with amusing and very varied characters. The gorgeous randy sisters, Amy-Lou (Rachael Maher) and Mary-Jean (Althea Bevilacqua), the inept Deputy Dorg (Shaun Griffin) and the man who single-handed captured Wild Gil (Peter King). The final witness was the Indian Chief, Sheeska Bob (Marcelle Weber) owner of the local store and restaurant, with a hilarious script.
A last minute character witness for the accused was Lim Too Tan Maid (Rachael Maher) who brought the house down with her broken Engrish, sorry English, and lack of comprehension.
Will this hardened criminal escape justice? The decision was left us, the audience jury, whether or not this man dies by the rope.
I first saw this comedy more than three years ago at the Old Mill in South Perth. It was funny then, but this new version has been edited and is a much more professional script, although a little more thinning out in the first quarter would help. It is filled with jovial anachronisms e.g. multinovas on the highway, double-entendres by the score and many references to 60s and 70s pop tunes are blended into the script. It may help if the cast half sing some of these phrases to emphasise the joke.
In the second two thirds, the pace was very good, the cast very well directed and rehearsed (Hywel Williams and assistant director Piera West).
The foyer was adornd with Wild West objects, cartwheels, bales of straw and numerous ‘Wanted’ posters. The saloon set was most convincing, with all the extras. The costumes were straight from a film set, well above average – the girls’ stunning and sexy outfits were brilliant. The sound and lighting were also well above average.
There was a lot of new talent on the cast list. Braye as the laidback Otis, the white barman who thought that he was a black African had a natural flow of mannerisms. The legal teams were most convincing. The whole show picked up when the witnesses appeared. The cast was wonderful with excellent rapport and great timing, but I am sure that they won’t mind my making special mention of Marcelle as the Indian, and Rachael in her two roles as the saloon whore and the Chinese hotel maid. Rachael appeared as the lead in ‘The Miracle Worker’ and now here, in only her second major role (?), she has proved herself in a completely different genre with perfect comedic delivery. Outstanding.
Extremely clever and funny, original style of script. Great characters, captured well by the actors. If you are worried about political correctness and the odd lewd comment then this may not be for you, however last night’s audience came dressed in cowboy outfits and really enjoyed it.
Pheonix’s most professional comedy yet.
Well, Dog my Cats!! The Wild West comes to Phoenix
Have you ever been to a show where the lines and puns are SO bad they are hilarious?
Do you absolutely adore Benny Hill, Dick Emery and maybe even Julian Clarey?
Do you miss the days before the world went mad and we let "Political Correctness" take control of our sense of humour?
Then this production is a mind-trip that you will definitely not want to miss.
Johnny Grim (Playright Extraordinaire) has created an hilarious tale of the Old Wild West with all the puns and inuendo that you would expect to find in the best of the "worst" British style comedy.
Every scene is chock-a-block full of hackneyed one liners and School-boy groaners...For the folks like me that are fans of this style of "British" humour, this is a treat not to be missed!
References to songs and even Broadway shows abound in this laugh a minute story about the most ruthless gunslinger the West has never known.
But don't let the simplicity of the story fool you folks..... there's a twist in this tale that has to be witnessed to be believed....and if you think I am going to let on as to what that may be here - you are sadly mistaken!
So Y'all is gonna have to shift your ornery backsides offen them comfy city-slicker chairs and git on down to "The Slimy Gulch Saloon" fer a slice of "Southern Hospitality" - Phoenix Theatre style!!
(Heck! They's even got Can Can Gals!!!!)