Take a seat and take on a character; it’s 1983, and you’re here to recreate a murder. Comedian Joe Pops was shot dead at the end of a disastrous set and now you’re recreating a five-minute time loop leading up to his death.
This novel piece splits the audience in two with some members sitting cabaret style at the front and the main body sitting at the back watching with detached glee. For those brave enough to sit in the front, you inhabit a host of different and unusual characters: from Joe’s agent, to blonde-wigged urbanites. Each character is accompanied by a hat, wig or piece of costume to help participants get into character and a simple set of instructions detailing a few actions within the repeating time loop of the gig. The range of instructions is a subtle but fantastic part of the performance, from simple heckles, to punchlines, to creating a house of cards as a disinterested architect. With each repetition over the hour-long play you get the chance to inhabit another character and even the opportunity to become Joe him/herself.
The simple and flexible script is cleverly constructed by devisor Ross Sutherland and the almost invisible cast, revealing hints of excellence on the edges of the repetitions as it gives you something slightly different at the end of each loop. Its interactivity has a rough and intimate feel, with energy and humour predominantly flowing from the audience – but this is also how it comes unstuck: as the performance relies heavily on the audience and the repetitive nature of the play, momentum doesn’t build but stumbles along as specific audience members get laughs with genius one-liners and others only elicit a mystified chuckle. With each repeat very little is learned about the focus of the story – Joe Pops and his impending murder – which left me struggling to feel drawn in. The form of the show means that any actual tension is created only from audience nerves as they prepare to shout out their own heckles.
Part of Escalator East to Edinburgh, Comedian Dies in the Middle of a Joke is an interesting and varied piece that has a lot of potential to shine, but relies so heavily upon the audience that your experience could range from an astounding to a nervously quiet hour. If you love to get involved then this show is going to appeal, but if you want the show to really be great, it’s up to you.