A Slacker’s Guide to Western Theatre

Originally written by Stephen Challens for the Festival for European Anglophone Theatre Societies in 2005 (where it scooped the Adjudicator's Award and Best Original Script), but largely rewritten for the Bedlam stage, ‘A Slacker’s Guide to Western Theatre’ follows an ensemble of drama students swotting up for their exams by narrating and acting out the whole history of drama through the medium of mockery, parody and spoof.

That’s what the flyer says at least. While there is absolutely no mention of revision for any impending drama exams, the play instead hits the ground running, immediately launching into the promised history of the western theatrical canon. The cast of seven work superbly well together, making the whistle stop tour they provide seem effortless, and there are some genuinely hilarious moments, such as when they consider Brecht’s Verfremdungseffekt.

However, disappointingly some clever theatrical ideas, such as pitting the works of Shakespeare and Marlowe against each other through a 39 horse race (the “1616 Grand National”), were impaired by lost lines (under the stampede of Elizabethan horses) and one liners thrown away. Then again, with regards to the latter, of those that were heard there were a few too many “nob jokes” where I might have preferred more erudite, intellectual offerings.

Nevertheless, “A Slacker’s Guide” is a good, humorous hour of entertainment. Though the quality of the comedy is indeed mixed, there are still enough quality moments for one to find themselves laughing out loud. Another thing for certain is that you’ll learn something too, as horribly clichéd as that sounds.

We at Fresh Air agreed on not having ‘half stars’, so I am unfortunately obliged to only grant 3/5, as this show doesn’t quite merit 4, though it is still worth seeing for an enjoyable morning of ‘edutainment’ of a modestly high calibre.

Reviewed by Sacha Timaeus 19/08/2010

A Slacker’s Guide to Western Theatre
Bedlam Theatre
11:30 August 9th-28th