Nick Helm - Keep Hold Of The Gold
The King’s Head, Crouch End, London, 8th February 2011
Big of voice and big on fun, Nick Helm is the kind of comedian who scares the hell out of people sat in the front row. But in a nice way. Kinda. His comedy is raucous, silly and rattles along at a pace. With songs belted out, audience engagement (unluckily for some) and a hefty dose of shouting, Helm is an energetic, sweaty performer. Even the hardest of hearts would find a tough not to have a good time in his presence.
Cinderella
The King’s Head, Angel, London, 7th February 2011
In the back room of a pub, OperaUpClose perform Cinderella as we know it, but set in the modern age. A chariot is replaced by a Boris bike, the ugly stepsisters with ugly slappers. You get the idea. Whilst not entirely captivating, the show was good fun throughout. However, Cinderella will be remembered not only by the paying audience but by patrons of the pub also, who were treated to an unannounced fight scene which took place in the pub, as regulars drank on. Surreal and sublime.
