REVIEW: COCKROACH at Canal Café Theatre 20 -22 July 2023
‘A triumph across the board and an absolutely hilarious one at that.’ ★★★★★
You know a show is brilliant when you can’t decide what your favourite moment was. Was it the introduction of our three characters, Barry, Brian and Bean, a hilarious skit reminiscent of Abbott and Costello? Or was it the band practise bit, where they were joined by two people from the audience in their rendition of Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger on their imaginary instruments? Or the emu bit, in which… well, you’ll have to see it for yourself.
The Barry, Brian & Bean Company’s latest masterpiece COCKROACH takes us through the 80s with three incredibly average guys who, of course, think they have what it takes to make it in this crazy world. The relentlessly hysterical nature of the show almost fools you into thinking that the underlying themes of loneliness and shallow, unjustified self-obsession aren’t there. But of course, they are, it’s the 80s.
The three leads, Rachel Barry, Niamh O’Brien and Nina Levy, give outstanding performances, taking the drag king comedy world to new heights, performing sketch after sketch, without missing a beat. Pop culture references find their home in this setting perfectly (Blind Date, Countdown and, of course, Tears for Fears) and one-liners catch you off-guard, ‘Freelance butler’ being a particular favourite of mine.
COCKROACH is one of the most insane, laugh-out-loud funny things I’ve seen in a very, very long time. It takes about 500 unexpected turns, each more ridiculously funny than the last. A triumph across the board and an absolutely hilarious one at that.
COCKROACH
The Barry, Brian & Bean Company
Canal Café Theatre, 20 - 22 July 2023
Keep in touch with the company -
SOCIAL MEDIA:
@BarryBrianBean (Instagram)
@BarryBrianBean1 (Twitter)
Reviewer Carol Saint Martin is a screenwriter, playwright, pop culture blogger, magazine contributor and film host. Her TV pilot DEADLINE, REDFERN CITY and her stage plays have reached the finals of several competitions.
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