Masterpiece makes a stunning return to form this year, bringing back the same slapstick bout of comedy that made it so popular in the 2024 Fringe Festival.
Many of these smaller, more intimate performances bring some unique to the table, showcasing something completely different with a tight cast and small set. Masterpiece does something I haven’t seen before in a show, however, which is rely on an almost retro style slapstick performance for its laughs.
The premise of the show is delightfully simple. Two clowns need to hang up a piece of art.
The clowns in question, Will Bartolo and Rae Colquhoun-Fairweather, are masters of physical comedy. This show feels like a silent comedy from the 1920’s, where all the laughs come from this cascading list of errors and blunders.
I’m always impressed when actors can shine in atypical situations. Karate Man being controlled by the whims of an audience member with a game controller was always my go to reference for this, but the non-verbal slapstick of the two performers in this show is another impressive display of talent under an interesting constraint.
This show was immensely deserving of an encore. It just felt good to watch. It felt good to laugh. Hopefully it wasn’t the last reprieve, and more people can come to enjoy the unexpected hilarity of two clowns trying to hang up a painting.
