Arts

Tape Face

Norwich Theatre Playhouse

26/09/16

So much to say about a man who stuns the audience without saying a single word. I honestly do not know where or how to begin describing last night’s performance. I have only seen Tape Face once before last night but he was only a small feature of a cabaret show, whereas last night this time he had the place to himself and MY GOD, did he own it! His presence engulfed the stage, aisles and the minds of everybody in the room. I for one, was utterly transfixed by his every movement and expression and I know I was not alone judging by the uncontrollable laughter, applause and cheering that filled the room.

I was lucky enough to be one of the selected members of the audience to be chosen from the crowd to join him on stage as part of one of his parody sketches. I was Demi Moore…he was Patrick Swayze…a lump of orange Play-Doh was our clay pot on a spinning wheel! When Unchained Melody kicked in the audience erupted and I realised we were in Ghost, and it was awesome! Like I said, I felt very fortunate to be up close and personal with such an incredible entertainer with the most wild, dazzling, intense eyes in the business.

In comparison to others that were called up after me I got off lightly! He had a girl pretending to be a tiny plastic lion, an old man who couldn’t dry hump to save his life and a pair in a mini-golf tournament that consisted of a ping pong ball, a hair dryer and a dustpan on an extendable pole! It was both hysterical and painful to watch as people made utter fools of themselves in brilliant high spirits under Tape Face’s scathing looks. The incorporation of puppetry was superb as was his ease of improvisation depending on the reactions of others.

On a deeper level though, the premise of the show was far more than just slapstick madness and a box of tricks. The setting was of a tatty, old fashioned backstage area where he was waiting to be called to perform. The notion of the show taking part before the 'show' worked really well, and to take it one step deeper he fell asleep at the beginning in a chair listening to the radio; you could have interpreted the whole thing as being a dream while he waited to go on stage.

Those that are familiar with Tape Face will know that his show relies heavily on a painstakingly accurate soundtrack and a sound engineer with extreme skill and precision. This show was no exception as each sound effect, song and lighting cue was 100% on point and gave everyone in the room such a fantastic, professional, unique experience.

I won’t give away the finale, but what I will say is that it involves lots of laughter, audience participation and an absolute classic tune and I wish I was going again tonight because I practically danced out of the theatre raving about it last night!