Photo credit: Mark Senior Photography – (L-R) Matt Freeman, Al Dunn, Nick Bunt in Oh Zeus! (Le Navet Bete)
A guest review by Steve Roche
To be honest I was not expecting that much from Oh Zeus! – so it was a delightful surprise to enjoy a thoroughly entertaining evening. This is a new show, described as a mythical farce, from a comedy theatre company based in Exeter called Le Navet Bete (whichmeans Daft Turnip).
Zeus is chief God and ruler of Mount Olympus. When the stability of Olympus is threatened by the marriage of Zeus’ daughter Hebe to a mere mortal, the King of the Gods hatches a plan to derail the wedding.
If you know anything of Greek myths you will recognise some names and characters – brothers Poseidon and Hades; Hera, wife of Zeus; Charon the ferryman and Cerberus the three-headed dog to name but a few. There’s also a sprinkling of mortals, who are even less likely to have existed than the inhabitants of Olympus.
Photo credit: Mark Senior Photography – (L-R) Matt Freeman and Nick Bunt in Oh Zeus! (Le Navet Bete)
It is the top of Olympus that we first see in an ingenious set that undergoes several transformations. Just three actors – fit, muscular, and full of energy – change in and out of an astonishing range of characters at high speed, with multiple entrances and exits. The physical comedy is accomplished and very funny. It looks like anarchy and chaos, but that can only be achieved with precision planning and a lot of work backstage.
There are props, costumes, special effects, visual tricks, and comic routines enough to satisfy the most demanding of panto directors. But despite the pace it is driven by a coherent story that even manages a little poignancy and pathos among the laugh-out-loud moments.
Photo credit: Mark Senior Photography – Nick Bunt in Oh Zeus! (Le Navet Bete)
The first night audience of all ages loved the show and were on their feet to applaud by the end. Oh Zeus! is a cleverly devised and impressive piece of work that has clearly been much practised and polished. Even the occasional blooper was confidently ad-libbed and enjoyed by both performers and audience.
Photo credit: Mark Senior Photography – (L-R) Al Dunn and Matt Freeman in Oh Zeus! (Le Navet Bete)
This is a company that deserves to be well-supported on their UK tour. Three bits of advice: avoid the front row if you are of a nervous disposition, exercise your own judgement if you choose the adult version, and thirdly – go and see it!
Oh Zeus! runs at the New Wolsey Theatre until Saturday 9 May, with the 2pm show on Wed 6 May being captioned and a post-show talk taking place following the performance on Thu 7 May.
You can book tickets for Oh Zeus! via the New Wolsey Website or call the Box Office on 01473 295900
The Wed 6 May and Fri 8 May shows are adults-only performances – expect strong language and even ruder jokes than usual.
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