Earlier this year Mischief Theatre’s smash-and-grab hit The Comedy About A Bank Robbery celebrated it’s second birthday in the West End. Jenna Augen joined the new cast taking over from the original Mischief Theatre team.
Now she’s had some time to settle in, we caught up with Jenna to find out about her time in the show.
You’re currently playing Ruth Monaghan in The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, how would you describe the show to anyone who hasn’t seen it?
The Comedy About a Bank Robbery is a diamond heist set in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1958, so think Monty Python meets Mission Impossible meets Fargo with a strong undercurrent of Who Framed Rodger Rabbit?. It’s a very fun, silly, slapstick, witty and warm farce, with a lot of music and plenty of heart.
What’s your favourite thing about Ruth, your character?
There are a few things. She’s quick on her toes and nothing -absolutely nothing- gets by her. Also, she’s a wonderful, loving mama bear who is just trying her very best to protect her son under difficult circumstances. She’s a fighter.
How did it feel joining the cast of an already successful Mischief Theatre (the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong) production?
It’s been an absolute dream. It’s such a positive, funny, cohesive, relaxed company and it has to be: this is the kind of show where the entire team has to be in sync or it just doesn’t work as well. The same goes for the performing of it: it works best when everyone in the room is enjoying it, onstage and off… There’s a sort of symbiosis with the audience every night which has been utterly joyous to experience. It’s a great privilege to be working in such an atmosphere.
There’s a lot of physical comedy in the show, how do you prepare yourself for that and make sure it doesn’t go wrong?
A proper physical and vocal warm-up is absolutely essential for all of us, and we have one every day.
How have the original team supported you?
They are involved and they are wonderful! Their fingers are still very much on the pulse of the show. They were there through every step of the process: from auditions to rehearsals to our opening and they often check in throughout the run. At the moment, they’ve just finished the tour of their Olivier-nominated Mischief Movie Night, so they haven’t been around as much lately, but they are always supporting and encouraging all of us.
How would you describe the average audience reaction to The Comedy About a Bank Robbery?
Every night feels like a party on this show. There’s a mutual warmth and silliness that is infectious and palpable. And there are some twists that often garner more-than-a-few gasps. So far, we have been blessed with extraordinarily fun, receptive, generous, and enthusiastic audiences and I hope the trend continues!
The Comedy About a Bank Robbery is booking until April 2019. Buy Tickets
