by Sarah Cope

A tap-dancing rector with a tooth fetish and an obsession with prostitutes is perhaps an odd choice of subject matter for a sing-a-long play, but that’ s what the award-winning company Penny Dreadful are currently touring with. The play’ s title alone is enough to make one groan, and the production itself is full of jokes and puns which provoke a similar reaction.

The play is based on the true story of the Rector of Stiffkey, a man who trawled the streets of Soho for prostitutes who he could ‘ help’ . The assistance offered to them by ‘ the prostitutes’ padre’ , however, did not come without certain conditions. This resulted in him being accused of rape and ex-communicated, ending his life working in a freak show, and eventually being mauled to death by a lion. “ We’ ve added nothing,” we were told “apart from the three-part harmonies.”

In the grand tradition of Victorian vaudeville, the play sent up the upper class, though no one escaped ridicule – the depiction of a mean-spirited landlady was particularly funny, taking many a cue, I thought, from Julie Walters’ ‘ Mrs Overall’ in Victoria Woods’ Acorn Antiques. It also dealt with issues such as rape and syphilis with
many a one-liner and intentionally inappropriate ditty.

The play was full of physical comedy, which, much of the time, worked better than the verbal gags. The five-part cast (some of whom took on several roles) were incredibly lithe and acrobatic. Indeed, the bodies of the women cast members were more like those of dancers than actors, which is little surprise given that this is such a
physical, energetic show, lasting just short of two hours with no interval.

“The English are sick,” commented by Canadian companion when the play ended, songs about limbs falling off and blow jobs not being quite her thing. The point, though, of vaudeville is not only to amuse, but also to shock. It’ s a genre that disappeared for some time, but there’ s no doubt, with companies such as Penny Dreadful, it is alive again. Not always comfortable viewing, but that is kind of the point.

Seen at Jackson’ s Lane Theatre, Highgate – touring in Norwich, Chelmsford, Trowbridge: details.