3 Guys Naked From the Waist Down at the Finborough Theatre, London
3 Guys Naked From the Waist Down continues at the Finborough Theatre, London until 15 December.
Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
This 1985 piece hasn’t been seen in London since 1989. And, interesting as it is, it isn’t difficult to see why, even with Jerry Colker’s often entertaining words and Michael Rupert’s music, it hasn’t enjoyed too many outings. Despite Lindsay McAllister’s sterling choreographic efforts in a very confined space, it remains a rather earnest three-hander which feels a bit dated and lacks real humour.
Three stand up comics – each with a different style and temperament – form, after a certain amount of agonising, a comedy trio. They enjoy considerable success before eventually going their separate ways. It isn’t much of a narrative to sustain a two hour show which focuses on the dynamics between them rather than, most of the time, on action. That’s why, hard as director Joshua Stamp-Simon and his team try, it still seems slow and wooden in places.
It is not without merit, though. Benedict Hastings gives a splendid performance as Phil Kunin. His voice work – lots of different accents and cameos – is a delight, his timing is immaculate and he is a highly charismatic actor to watch and listen to. His rich tenor voice and impeccable intonation across a wide register impresses too. Guy Woolf (as Ted Klausterman) does some good cameo work and sings in a voice so high that it’s almost an alto or counter tenor and adds pleasingly to the musical texture in the trios. Simon Haines finds plenty of emotion in Ted Klausterman, especially at the end.
The five-piece band led by musical director Josh Sood is one of the best things about this show, although it occupies half the playing space. Sood and his colleagues do the material, which is very varied, real justice. And there are some fine numbers in the score. The G&S spoof is a high spot and I like the rhythmic words which develop into songs like a modern version of recitative but not quite rap.
A curate’s egg of a show.
Susan Elkin
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