Multi-award-winning comedy group Kill The Beast bring their ridiculously hilarious production of Don’t Wake The Damp to the Lowry after its sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Inspired by 80s sci-fi, superheroes and outrageous stories, it is a wacky performance that combines slick comedy with humorous music and excellent characterisation.
The play itself explores the desolate life of Juniper Berry who reminisces on her previous career as the sexy side-kick on TV. Now a washed-up actress, she shuffles around her flat in a high-rise building. To her dismay, she is told that due to a Damp that is evading the building, she is going to have to be evicted.
As a forceful being, she teams up with her eccentric neighbours to fight the Damp and restore their homes. With the help of the overly pedantic Council administrator, whom the neighbours proceed to kidnap and then enlist him on their team.
Mirroring the 90s gaming themes in the production, they use a multitude of technical elements to display the set and enhance the story. These technicalities enhance the staging and create multiple backdrops for the action in order to maintain the rapid pace. Not to mention their incredibly written original music that is catchy, fun and insanely funny. Each song is excellently witty, and paired with animated choreography reflecting their tumultuous energy.
Every character brings life to the performance, particularly the charming and obnoxious Captain Charisma (Oliver Jones), paired with his sidekick (Natasha Hodgson) who strikes the perfect balance between the alluring superhero and her bedraggled older self.
It’s an entirely physical production that has full commitment from every cast member. Their performance is dynamic in this quirky show that is just downright entertaining. It is a well-written piece of theatre that has sharp dialogue and visually stunning technical transitions.
On at the Lowry until Saturday the 29th, tickets can be found here.
