Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin is a one-man show written and performed by Marcel Cole, ‘using mime, clowning, projected story cards and audience participation’ according to its publicity material. It does what it says on the tin and Cole uses all of these ploys, plus a bit of whispering to audience accomplices, to tell the story of Charlie Chaplin’s life and work, mainly without the spoken word for the first half. Then came the ‘talkies’ and so Cole adds his own voice, modulated into a clipped English redolent of 1930s Received Pronunciation that allows us to believe Chaplin spoke that way.
The venue is small and the audience participation starts early on. I chose to sit towards the back where the seats are slightly higher, hoping to get the best view, but once Cole was off the stage and in amongst the audience I couldn’t see him or his chosen ‘victim’ (willing or otherwise), nor could I tell what was going on, as I’m guessing it was all in mime. First rule of physical theatre: engage your audience. I craned my neck to try to see what was happening but couldn’t see a thing until the audience member was brought up on stage and engaged in a Keystone Cops-style chase, except whereas Cole ran, the ‘cop’ sauntered, rather sheepishly, I felt.
Several other audience members were involved and, although one lady seemed utterly confused by the whole thing, and it would have been cruel to laugh at her, we probably all did, most joined in wholeheartedly and the final male audience member, playing Chaplin’s wife Oona, revelled in his portly stomach and long beard, and Cole played up to that too.
With his white face paint, little moustache, bowler hat and walking stick, Cole cut a fine Chaplinesque figure, but didn’t quite carry off the walk. He appeared to revel in the Hitler-related section, with swastikas stuck to his bare chest and having fun with a huge white balloon. There was serious footage of war scenes projected onto the screen at the back of the stage and I found the comedy jarring alongside that.
Cole is excellent at clowning and mime and, as you would expect, his timing and facial expressions are impeccable. I found a lot to like in the show but wasn’t convinced it merited the standing ovation it received.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
