Spoiler warning: This article contains details about Inside No. 9: Stage/Fright
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith(Image: ATG Marc Brenner)
Expect the unexpected was the approach I took as I settled into my seat at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre last night to watch the highly-acclaimed BBC show, Inside No. 9, come to life.
Any fan of the show will be mindful of the dark humour and unanticipated twists and turns of the show that have helped it amass such a large fan base over the years. Dark comedy is a difficult genre to replicate in front of a live audience, but with a sudden crashing sound and an instant descent into darkness marking an abrupt end to any ongoing conversation, Liverpool Empire was immediately immersed into the world of Inside No. 9: Stage/Fright.
Paying homage to its TV counterpart, the play undoubtedly provided the audience with a unique experience, probably unlike any other show they had watched before.
Show writers’ Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith were never going to let viewers of the show’s nine series down and they certainly didn’t as they excelled together on stage, a fitting nod to their 30-year partnership together.
The performance is split into two acts, a reflection of the series’ anthology style. As both parts have no correlation, it truly highlights the skills of the actors and their ability to transform seamlessly from one character to another at the drop of a hat.
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith(Image: ATG Marc Brenner)
Perhaps one of the best things about Inside No. 9 is viewers don’t necessarily had to have watched episodes in order, as each story stands on its own. A refreshing change in a society that relies heavily on binge-watching shows for entertainment.
However, for the large part, the first act of the show took huge inspiration from different episodes of the TV series. This means some laughs were perhaps lost on those who hadn’t watched the show before. For those who were aware of the referenced scenes, it made it all that little bit funnier.
One such scene was the kidnapping scene. This was one of “Cheese and Crackers” comedy sketches. Tommy (Reece Shearsmith) and Len (Steve Pemberton) are a fictional comedy duo who split 30 years ago.
They had decided to get together for another round of sketches and practiced one of their old skits to warm up. Tommy and Len discuss the past for some time. Len suggested a new plot, which is immediately dismissed by his partner, upon reading the script, Tommy, portrayed by Reece Shearsmith, has a vision of how it would unfold.
The accidental kidnapping of a celebrity, which would be executed by two incompetent criminals who can’t co-operate and work together to make it a success. In every show a new celebrity guest is unveiled as the hostage, there was a feeling of anticipation ahead of the big reveal.
A thunderous applause and a chorus of whistles rang out as the celebrity ‘hostage’ was revealed. Appearing on stage with a cover on her head and wearing a silk dressing gown, the crowd were delighted when Claire Sweeney was unmasked.
Claire Sweeney appeared on Inside Number Nine in The Liverpool Empire(Image: Courtney Eales/Liverpool ECHO)
The kidnap sketch was my favourite part of the show, partly because a lot of it seemed improvised – I appreciate how much skill this must require.
The actress reflected on her Coronation Street role before the expected slapstick comedy from Reece and Steve changed the topic of conversation to Brookside, or as the show creators called it “Duckside” and “F***side”.
Claire, who made a name for herself as Lindsey Corkhill on the Liverpool-based soap, was left to her own devices for a short period of time on stage after the hostage situation meant didn’t unfold as the criminals would have anticipated.
The audience laughed as Claire broke character and started laughing, asking “what am I doing here?”. As to be expected with Inside No. 9, the sketch was never going to be as routine as it appeared.
Of course, the Liverpool audience were not going to be left feeling like they themselves shouldn’t be looking over their shoulder. Reece had spoken about terror at the Liverpool Empire Theatre before the show properly got underway, a spooky tale which plays an important role in both act one and act two of the play.
The work of the visual effects and props team did not go unnoticed as they created a tense, almost eerie atmosphere, even in the funniest moments of the show. Every light, noise and cue had impeccable timing.
Steve Pemberton on stage for Inside Number Nine (Image: Marc Brenner)
The second half the show was a complete refresh, little reference to any of the original TV show material. It was the second act when the supporting actors really shone, with some familiar names. It started with a complete new sketch, Miranda Hennessy and Anna Francolini play a prospective patient (Suzette) and a nurse at Dr Goudron’s asylum.
Reece appeared on stage playing an apparent mad scientist. After plenty of drama and unexpected moments, it is Gaby French who moves the sketch along in comedic fashion as she walks onto the stage, almost unknowing that an entire theatre is watching an intense moment of horror. The contrast worked perfectly and was a balance of horror and comedy that any writer would be proud of.
The cast perfected the ability of completely breaking the fourth wall as they spoke directly to the audience. The acting of all cast members was notable, but of course, it was the creators of the show, Steve and Reece, that stole the show. Naturals in front of both the stage and behind camera.
It is clear to see why the two-hour play, directed by Simon Evans, has been an extraordinary success. It is inventive and compelling, it is made for a certain type of humour and may not be for everyone, but as it incorporates many elements of different genres it is clear to see why it appeals to such huge audiences and has sold-out across the country.
I am not a massive fan of slapstick comedy myself, but as it was a stage production, I accepted it would be a key part and embraced it along with everyone else in the theatre. It worked well with other elements of the play and helped balance the comedy and dark horror genres.
Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton certainly proved themselves on the stage as they had done on BBC. You will laugh and scream after the world of intrigue unfolds in front of you. Now, it is definitely time for me to rewatch the show from the beginning as I am sure others in the audience have been inspired to do.
Inside No. 9: Stage/Fright runs at the Liverpool Empire Theatre from Tuesday November 18 until Saturday November 22. All shows are currently sold out.