Whether it’s through the numerous movie franchises or even the Broadway musical scheduled for late next year, King Kong is a character, and story, we are all familiar with. This latest version of King Kong, written by Daniel Clarkson, takes the story’s spirit of adventure and terror and gives it a comedy twist at The Vaults.
The plot follows it’s familiar path, with movie maker Carl Denham seeking out a leading lady and, along with a hardy crew, setting off to Skull Island deep in the Indian Ocean. They hunt the mighty Kong, after battling dinosaurs (and a giant chicken) they end up capturing the creature and returning it to New York, where it promptly escapes.
Here though, comedy takes priority over the plot and although it may not be the most sophisticated of humour “Have you ever been abroad? Yes, I was born this way” it is very funny. There’s good use of recurring jokes, such as Token Guy, and the cast overplay play it all with such ham-fisted gusto it’s impossible not to get carried along.
With most of the cast playing multiple roles it’s an energetic bunch who take to the stage. The only female member of the cast, Alix Dumore, plays a strong Ann, more than able to take on the misogynistic Denham, played with loveable roguishness by Rob Crouch.
Ben Chamberlain as Jack Driscoll demonstrates great performance skills with the geeky love interest. Sam Donnelly and Brendan Murphy take on the most characters, with Donnelly’s Skipper and Murphy’s Larry being particular highlights.
Director Owen Lewis and set designer Simon Scullion have done a remarkable job in a relatively small space. The tiered stage allows all manner of scenes to be played out and some ingenious stage trickery and puppetry help the cast achieve more than should be possible. Sound design by Sam Clarkson also packs a punch, with the roar of Kong seeming to come from every direction, I turned around in my seat several times, expecting to see the megaprimatus sneaking up behind me, and any production that manages to incorporate the Cagney and Lacey theme tune, is a hit in my books.
This production of King Kong may not have the big budget special effects of the movies, or the rousing score of the musical, but it does play to its strengths. Some clever staging and a committed cast brings even the droller of the jokes to life, and keeps the audience chuckling throughout.
