AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON AT PLYMOUTH DRUM THEATRE
Plymouth’s Drum theatre is currently playing host to the “Told by an Idiot” company. Formed in 1993, they have developed a unique and innovative style towards comedic productions and “And the Horse you Rode in On” pushes these boundaries even further.
247 Magazine spoke to director, Paul Hunter, about unique vision for the show as well as some of its very surprising inspirations. We’ve always been very interested in presenting theatre that both challenges but has something to say for all types of audience. I’m not sure if the majority of 247’s readership will be old enough to remember the BBC sitcom “Are You Being Served?” but I’m sure that they’ll still be able to appreciate the comedy in its set up.
So the play is a comedy?
Not strictly, no. I do think it’s very funny and I certainly hope that the audience will be amused by it . . . but the humour comes from a very specific place. This play is actually our attempt to become quite political although in a way that politics seems to work in the world at the moment. People seem forced to extremes to make a point at the moment and this is the story of how powerless we are to get in the way of someone once they hit a point of no return. Many of the scenes in the Grace Brothers’ department store are concerned with a student trying to get people to listen to her. Possibly a situation that many of today’s students will understand.
So the play is very timely then? Particularly with all the taxation demonstrations currently being carried out in various department stores.
I suppose so, yes, although the interesting thing is that this play has been in development for sometime now and none of that was occurring when we began putting it together, So perhaps its more a case of where society is heading generally. I thin,k because of this, there is something that will strike a chord with anyone in the audience despite there age, background etc etc. The series of sketches that we present were drawn not just from “Are you being Served” but also Hitchcock’s Sabotage and even Bugs Bunny!! It’s funny and intentionally funny but that humour is drawn from a somewhat dark place. We’re considering how far we’re able to stop someone or affect events if that person has reached a point of no return. The humour grows out of that sometimes it feels unexpected or even inappropriate but that’s a lot like life.
It’s a very strong theme and the play’s being promoted with a very strong visual.
Yes, we’ve received quite a reaction to that two an the title of the play “And the Horse you Rode in On” is the punchline of a joke that’s explained very quickly at the beginning of the play as we didn’t want that to distract the audience from fully considering what was going on in the piece.
So, if you’d like your sensibilities challenged, get along to the Drum theatre where’And the Horse you Rode in On’ is running until 13th March.
Words: Alan Butler
