It is so very difficult re-reviewing a play that was so thoroughly enjoyed first time round (see review October 2023 which really says it all), particularly when none of the delight is diminished and the ‘boys’ are just as enthusiastically daft after a long tour (which continues next year) as they were at the outset—but the opportunity to watch and endorse again on its home ground is just too tempting.
King Arthur is still frantic fun, chaotic comedy and very, very slick. Al Dunn, Matt Freeman and Nick Bunt’s iconic multi-role-ing and precision timing brings Camelot and its tales of derring-do to life as, charged—on pain of a very nasty death—Dave the Rave, Edgar and Osbert must elevate the petulant king’s street cred from zero to hero at the ever-more imminent Arthurfest.
With Merlin rather too busy boiling his pants and rescuing the off-the-wall (but not via stairs) Lady of the Lake to be much help, the reluctantly intrepid duo must learn all there is to know about acting (or at the very least which way to face)—cue montage—to invent / recreate Arthurian legends.
Meanwhile, the dangerously seductive, milkshake maiden Guinevere’s need to come clean about her dirty secret adds a new threat should the omelette-loving young king find out.
And so the untold tales of the Knights of The Round Table’s gallantry are created with exquisite ridiculousness paramount. Slapstick, knowing asides, corpsing, cringey jokes, acrobatics, much smiting with bells on and bonkers fun ensues.
Lancelot forsakes the Lady of Shallot—cursed to boil in a bath of baked beans—to educate the tastebuds of Camelot with bear casserole and truffle foam; Percival battles the deadly Black Knight with machismo-driven logic astride an ostrich (due to the unavailability of fierce lions); sous chef yokel Gawain proves too chaste for the Green Knight’s dastardly plan; and Balin and Balan somehow thwart the Riddler in a mystical box-ing match.
All the while, the evil puppet master Morgana le Fay plots to escape her caravan and grab the throne for her sulky son / nephew with sword-stealing stealth, diversionary quests, ice-cream selling and song.
Very clever and very silly.
Now looking forward to Le Navet Bete's part in the Northcott panto next month.