The Cock & Tail Inn 2: The 80s

After last year’s successful run The Cock & Tail has returned to the Brighton Fringe, to the same venue but transplanted into the 80s and set in a remote working mens’ pub somewhere in the South West of England. Although the story vaguely flows from last year’s production, there is no need to know any of that beforehand; this fully self-contained piece works a treat on all levels; the dialogue, the acting, the set, and the story. Again, we are entering the realms of classic British farce and slapstick with some shocking costumes, Carry On innuendos galore, and a steady blitz of time capsuled 80s references; everything from Bucks Fizz cocktails to almost forgotten terms of abuse such as ‘wally’. While not nearly as light-hearted as say the Carry On series (we’re talking drugs, murder, bondage and general human treachery here…) it’s a laugh-a-second piece, carried along by some excellent character acting, that really revs up in the second half, before climaxing in a mass of denouements as the tangle of secrets and lies are exposed.

Tudor Room, (in the Puma Hotels ‘Old Ship Hotel’), until 26 May 2012
Rating:
Jeff Hemmings