April 5, 2008...11:45 am
First Review
Pub Quiz is a winner
04-04-2008
Go and see Pub Quiz when it comes to a theatre near you. This painfully funny observational comedy was written by Carina Rodney after she became embroiled in a quiz in an unnamed North East pub, and actually you really couldn’t make some of it up…
Joe Caffrey as the quiz master Geoff is the epitome of wasted comedy genius as he smart-talks his way through five rounds of questions and a room full of disparate characters.
By the time we find out that all-female teams are classified as disadvantaged and entitled to five bonus points, tears were running down my face with laughter, and that hasn’t happened for a very long time.
Behind the laughter of course, there were some heavy and poignant themes running through the play. When a stranger with a foreign accent enters the melee and starts beating the regulars at their own game, he brings out some of the darker sides of British culture, as the players display shocking inhospitality and suspicion towards him – I just wanted to cringe with embarrassment at how true to life this nonsense was.
Despite the bitter sweet ending, we exited with smiles on our faces and a real buzz going through the crowd – an indication of a hit in the making.
Pub Quiz is touring the region and you can see it tonight at Queen’s Hall in Hexham or at the following venues:
10-12 April 7.30pm
and 10 April 2.30pm
The Customs House, South Shields
Box office: 0191 454 1234
18 April 7.30pm
The Maltings, Berwick
Box office: 01289 330 999
22 April 7.30pm
Alnwick Playhouse
Box office: 01665 510 785
23-26 April 8pm
Northern Stage, Newcastle
Box office: 0191 230 5151
(from what’s on north east - came out Friday morning, can’t link so posted in full)
3 Comments
April 5, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Woo-hoo! Congrats! When I grow up, I want to be just like you!
– Laura
April 5, 2008 at 4:36 pm
You were always the brainy one.
April 6, 2008 at 10:39 am
Thanks Laura and Veronica. (if only all my brain worked)
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