Lights Up After Dark

Lights up After dark is a variety show with an adult twist. Last year when I reviewed the show, I commented on how I wanted the adult content to be pushed further, and I am pleased to say it was!

The show had 15 performers in total, Austin Arnold, Di Barton, Adam Beckman, Tom Beirne, Emma Dorrington, John Dunleavy, Nikki Hamilton Lewis Harrison-Barker, Heather Lawther, Michael Miles, Katie Musk, Zoe Nesteriuc, Richard Petch, Carmen Sheppard and Emma-Louise Walton.  It is impossible in this review to mention each performer individually; however, I will mention certain elements of the show that caught my attention.

The evening was compered by Austin Arnold and Tom Beirne.  The partnership was great, Austin being the positive one and Tom being the cynical pessimistic one.  Very good audience participation and very good listening and working with the correct members of the audience, who would give them something back, and the fortune cookie was very much appreciated (I think!)

The Lighthouse sketch was a such a good sketch so simple and so silly! This was one of the sketches I remembered from the evening.

Speaking of simple sketches Do you want to play with my balls?  Was just a book being read and being projected onto a screen, but the book was hysterical and read in such a dry way helped the audience use their minds to take the book in a whole new direction!

The Shambles is a classic routine, and I think Stevenage Lytton players do this routine amazingly, so slick and so funny!

Adam Beckman sang two of the darker songs Kill yourself and In Love with you.  Kill yourself had that jolly melody that you cannot help but tap your feet too and then the twist in the song is a moment when you think do I laugh or not, and Adam’s smile sold the song well.  In Love with you, is one of those songs that you do not want to watch with your partner (unfortunately I was!) if you partner is laughing then maybe there just might be a little bit of truth in the song, I really liked Katie Musk’s face in this number the not showing any emotion added to the comedy

The idea of the AI is a great idea, I do still think an improvisation game would work as well and keep the performers on their toes!

Thank you to the front of house and bar staff for a lovely welcome and an enjoyable evening.

Scott Welch

District 9

NODA East

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.