| 14 August 2011
Robin and Partridge. They’re resident artists at Tate Modern, which is a cool start.
These guys are very good, and they enamored a late Friday night audience of boozers like specialists in the trade. They had me, reluctantly, arms up, swaying in ‘the heather’ right from the start. Yeah that sounds random, but it’s not. Their surreal style is as though they’ve gone off on one and take us along for the ride. It’s eccentric, but not random.
The two actors take on a few different guises to “unravel colliding stories with film, politics and nonsense.” The momentum of the plot is completely engaging – exactly what a crowd who’ve had a few bevies requires – with lots of impact and interaction. The variety of visual stimulation leaves nothing for snoozers, between the bright, straightforward sketch routines, snappy darkened screenings of short video clips and brief appearances of an undulating shadow. It’s the pace that keeps the laughter flowing, while the story unfolds with seamless hysterics.
Robin and Partridge have serious accolades from their London beginnings, ‘London’s hot new comedy tip?’ (The Londonist), and yet they are unpretentious and warm. There wasn’t emphasis on anything too arty, except why art students don’t get the jobs they apply for, which worked because they obviously know what it’s like being a silly art student. They were even up for me rambling to them afterwards – inviting them to my art exhibition, oh dear. So to top it all off they are incredibly nice and polite.
It’s directed by Tom Bell, from Tom Bell Begins on at Just the Tonic at the Tron… He also listens politely to shameless invitations. I couldn’t recommend this show enough.
Robin and Partridge: Worlds Collide, Pleasance Attic, 3-29 Aug (not 10, 17), 10:45pm
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