Ben Langley writes, directs and performs in, what is rapidly becoming, the cult theatrical series of Ha Ha shows. The production of Ha Ha Hood!, for those who haven’t heard of them, is the fourth in the series – following on from Ha Ha Hamlet!, Ha Ha Hitler! and Ha Ha Holmes! – and is possibly the funniest of them all.
The shows are very interactive, which takes a lot of the audience by surprise. It’s all very well to see someone walk onto the stage, that is to be expected, but when they address you directly some people leave their comfort zone. Consequently, it takes a few minutes to get the audience “warmed up” but Langley factors this into his shows and deliberately writes in a section that happens before the actual show begins.
The success of the Ha Ha series, is based on a number of different elements. The panto style audience interaction is one and the “Carry On” style risqué humour is another but the two elements that bring audiences back time and time again are the superb script and the fantastic comic talent that Langley enlists to deliver it.
Cannon and Ball are one of the best known double acts in the country. Their career, which now spans some 35 years, is littered with honours, TV successes and even a big screen appearance in their film, The Boys in Blue.
They now take on multiple roles as with Tommy Cannon playing The Sheriff of Nottingham and Little John and Bobby Ball playing Guy of Gisborne, Friar Tuck, Madame Pom Pom, the wedding planner, and Cedric, Robin and Marion’s young son.
Of course, with multiple parts come multiple costume changes and some tremendous opportunities (whether scripted or not) for major on-stage confusion and much hilarity throughout the theatre. Cannon and Ball are consummate professionals, who make the very most of every single comic opportunity, managing, with just a look or a well placed pause, to have the audience in hysterics.
Starring along side the comic duo is TV favourite, Su Pollard as Maid Marion. Su makes performing comedy look effortless. The one liners trip off her tongue like bullets from a gun – and every one hits the target.
The combination of all this comic talent, supported by Ben Langley as Robin Hood and Andy Pickering, who supplies the musical accompaniment while also filling in as a number of incidental characters, is all that is needed to create a superb show that suits all ages because, luckily, the more “adult” humour goes straight over the heads of the children.
Ha Ha Hood! is comic farce at its very best, delivered by comedians who are still at the very top of their game, who use all of their experience to deliver a top class performance and give the audience exactly what they want – a really good laugh!
Five Stars *****