Show: The Comedy About A Bank Robbery
Format: Play
Genre: Comedy
Date: June 4 2019
Location: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
So, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery was presented by Mischief Theatre, the same folks behind The Play That Goes Wrong, a hilarious tale of comedic capers that came to Liverpool last summer (you can read that review by clicking here). TCAABR was more of a structured story, with the chaos seeming more organised, but with no shortage of laughs.
The Comedy About A Bank Robbery
Synopsis Of The Comedy About A Bank Robbery
The stage was quite literally set with a backdrop showing the city lights within the state of Minneapolis, backed up by the event programme featuring humorous news articles linked to both this show and other previous productions by the company. We kick things off in a prison cell in British Columbia, where we meet Mitch Ruscitti (Liam Jeavons) and a bunch of coppers, who are all leading authorities yet are all in (unbeknownst to Mitch) on his plan to rob a bank; one guy has told another, who then has told another, and so on.
This is a very funny scene, with Neil Cooper (David Coomber) being a very willing yet idiotic assistant, one who has a background in amateur dramatics, and it leads to daft moments such as Mitch ordering “Neil”, only for Cooper to quite literally kneel. This goes on for quite a bit and gets funnier as it progresses.
Target
Mitch eventually breaks out, assisted by Cooper, and we get a Running Man scene that is effective and well-choreographed. Minneapolis City Bank is the target, and a diamond worth $500,000 is the prize they wish to capture. The bank is run by Robin Freeboys (Eddy Westbury), whose name leads to plenty of silly interplay throughout. We’re introduced to him and his secretary Ruth Monaghan (Ashley Tucker), a general dogsbody of a woman who has been in the company for years but who remains a mere secretary. Her son Sam (Sean Carey), a petty criminal, comes in to try and pick-pocket staff, disappointing his mum in the process. She wants him to better himself because “everybody in this city is a crook”.
Mr. Freeboys is awaiting a security check from FBI agent Officer Randal Shuck (Killian Macardle) due to the diamond on site within the vault. However, Mr. Freeboys is a bit sly and wants his other office assistant Warren Siax (Jon Trenchard) to hide all the evidence of his dealings relating to fraudulent behaviour as it pertains to clients, including a nude painting! Meanwhile, his dodgy daughter Caprice (Julia Firth) takes a liking to Sam, and he falsely tells her that he’s a lawyer, a doctor and a rabbi! She tries to con various men out of money, and so she dates Sam to swindle him (which includes a very clever scene of them watching Casablanca).
Bed
Back at her flat, there is a very amusing scene which sees her bed continuously fold up into the cupboard while he’s lying on it. Then, Mitch shows up; as it turns out, he and Caprice were an item, and they remain married! Sam tries to escape, but he inadvertently kills Simon the seagull! Sam overhears the news about a bank robbery plan and is in on it, but as he leaves, Mitch tells Caprice that Sam has to be killed as soon as the plan is completed. Meanwhile, Cooper tries to get the pass codes to the vault, which is also hilarious to see. They all agree to forge ahead, but only with Warren being drugged with chloroform, leading to further capers.
The second half sees the police in line, with ever-increasingly large moustaches. So, they’re all up to their “knees, waist, belly-buttons, becks and ears” in paperwork in a clever scene. Meanwhile, Officer Shuck has taken a liking to Mrs Monaghan, while Warren is secretly in love with Caprice. Mr. Threeboys and Mitch meet for the first time in a very funny slapstick scene. And it’s quite damaging to Warren, while another seagull called Debra dies.
Climb
Amidst these, we get multiple impersonations, implied closet room sex and other mad happenings. This includes multiple characters losing their trousers more than once. The team eventually begin climbing through the overhead gutters towards the vault (during a very well-done scene which sees them look overhead above Robin and Warren, whose subsequent actions are simple yet extremely well-written and performed).
They finally get to the vault, and the leading criminals lower themselves on a rope to claim the diamond, but then there’s a stand-off between Robin, Mitch, Caprice and Sam, which casts doubt over who is morally correct and who is the proverbial crook, to quote Ruth. It leads to some major moments, both serious and hilarious, and there is doubt until the very end as to not only who will claim the diamond, but who will and who won’t get away with their crime. Just remember Ruth’s line from near the beginning: “everybody in this city is a crook”.
Analysis Of The Comedy About A Bank Robbery
I really enjoyed this show. I will say that the extended musical numbers (particularly in the first half) were a bit unnecessary. And the first scene within the bank dragged on a bit. But there was far more to enjoy than to gripe about. It’s the sort of show that you can’t take your eyes off because you will miss something. And it’s often the small details that make this work so well.
Whether it’s the play on names and popular terms, the spot-on comedic timing that allows all of the madness to unfold, the attention to detail which means that every prop in the room has a reason to be there, or just the general silliness which reaches a crescendo that has everybody in the theatre laughing out loud. The performers themselves are all very talented. And they excel in this environment, where nothing is too bizarre to become a reality.
Summary Of The Comedy About A Bank Robbery
Overall, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is a must-see show. It’s a little less consistent than The Play That Goes Wrong. But it is a thoroughly entertaining production that will leave you with plenty of memories to tickle your funny bone. I highly recommend that you check it out during its current run at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre.
