Review: Frank Sumatra at South Shields Customs House

Charity Begins At Home

Frank Sumatra

South Shields Customs House

9^th March 2015 and on tour

Imagine what would happen if your charitable cause suddenly decided to deliver the animal that you used to sponsor to your home. Keith had originally bought his wife, Bev, a sponsorship of an endangered orang-utan. Little did he realise that a few years later the bundle of hairy orange fun would land on their doorstep armed with an iPad that acts like a speak and spell. Any teenager will often have attitude but this simian can also literally swing off the lampshades.

Mike Yeaman, whose writing credits include Lucky Numbers, has written another comedy cracker which frequently had the audience laughing. Presented as a recording of a radio show in which the voices are separated from the sound effects, a number of the laughs come from that partitioning. Indeed the audience’s imaginations are allowed to explore the scene being described in the same way as one would listening to a play on the radio. Director Bev Fox is therefore able to weave a scene of chaos and the pace is not held up for a prop to arrive. It is an interesting delivery which works very well.  Our sound engineer, Mat Hobbins, finds himself producing many of the sounds that Frank would produce with tight comic timing.

In the centre of the story is a couple that is trying for a baby. Bev, played by Jessica Johnson, is strong willed and enthusiastic. She is not always sympathetic the needs of others such as her elderly kleptomaniac mother.  Her other half Keith is less than enthusiastic about his lot, worrying more about the contents of the bin than trying to conceive a new child. Pip Chamberlin is engaging as the bloke for whom quickly changing circumstances are taking things beyond his control.  His cynicism is typified by his outburst “I don’t want to be oppressed by simian overlords!” Much humour is gained by the banter that often goes on in relationships behind closed doors.

The short play is a real gem that frequently made the audience laugh. It might answer questions such as whether an alpha male can drive a Fiat Punto or if an orangutan can be mistaken for Mick Hucknell? The radio play format adds to the humour and the actors did a fine job presenting the pandemonium of an teenage bundle of joy who refuses to tow the line.

Frank Sumatra is a wonderful comedy riot highlighting the discord in relationships.

Frank Sumatra was commissioned by Queens Hall Hexham.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Original Jowheretogo Preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/preview-frank-sumatra-on-tour.html 

Cast: Jessica Johnson, Mat Hobbins, Pip Chamberlin. 

Directed by Bev Fox.

Remaining Tour Dates:

12/13 Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre Venue website link

14 Bedlington Community Centre Venue website link

Preview: Frank Sumatra at South Shields Customs House

Orang-utan Story will Grip Theatre Goers

Frank Sumatra

South ShieldsCustoms House

Monday 9^th March 2015

An award-winning playwright is returning to The Customs House next week.

Mike Yeaman, who has penned success stories Lucky Numbers and Canoeing For Beginners, brings his latest show, Frank Sumatra, to the Mill Dam venue on Monday.

This dark and surreal comedy is performed live in the style of a radio drama at the venue’s studio from 8pm.

Mike, whose plays have been performed all over the world, said: “I’m thrilled to be back at The Customs House with my new play. Imagine Paddington Bear gone wrong. And not a bear.  Bev and Keith are a nice young couple who do their bit for the environment. They have a weekly organic veg box delivered and pay ten quid a month to the World Wildlife Fund to sponsor an orphaned baby orang-utan in a Sumatran ape sanctuary. They’re also trying very hard to have a baby of their own to make life complete. But then their orang-utan turns up on the doorstep in search of his adoptive parents. The cute baby on a website is now a lolloping 13st of hair and muscle. Frank soon has his grippy feet firmly under the table and Bev and Keith are flung into parental angst dealing with a belligerent teenager with no moral compass. “

Lucky Numbers, starring Hebburn’s Pat Dunn, played to hundreds at the venue in October and Customs House Executive Director Ray Spencer, MBE, is looking forward to seeing Mike’s latest show. He added: “We’re delighted to have Mike back with us next week. It sounds like a somewhat surreal piece but I’m with Mike at the helm it’s sure to be a must-see.” Read the Jowheretogo Lucky Numbers review

Tickets

Tickets for Frank Sumatra are £11 and are available from the box office on (0191) 454 1234 or by visiting www.customshouse.co.uk

Preview: Frank Sumatra On Tour

Frank Sumatra

On Tour Across The North East

Imagine Paddington Bear gone wrong. And not a bear. Bev and Keith are a nice young couple who do their bit for the environment and pay 10 quid a month to the World Wildlife Fund to sponsor an orphaned orangutan. They’re also trying very hard to have a baby but when their orangutan turns up on the doorstep they find themselves parents to a hairy, unruly teenager.

A dark and surreal comedy written by Mike Yeaman (Lucky Numbers, Canoeing for Beginners) performed live in the style of a radio drama.

Frank Sumatra is a new One Act play, commissioned by Queens Hall Hexham.

Cast: Jessica Johnson, Mat Hobbins, Pip Chamberlin. 

Directed by Bev Fox.

Tour Dates:

March 06 Hexham Queens Hall Venue website link

07 Bishop Auckland Town Hall Venue website link

08 South Shields Customs House Venue website link

12/13 Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre Venue website link

14 Bedlington Community Centre Venue website link