The Spectacular Spectrum of Now is one of the most unique comedy events you could ever go to. Instead of one stand-up act after another, there is a real variety to this show presented at Hackney Attic. From the slapstick clowning of Pekka & Strangebone, to the video sketches of Burge & Way, there is no constant between the acts, which makes this one of the most unexpected and inventive comedy events. Some acts when seen by themselves may have left the audience puzzling what was happening (or to quote Pekka & Strangebone’s catchphrase ‘what the fuck is going on?’), but when combined with the rest of the acts, the whole night is perfectly packaged.
The night starts with Tom Curran, a man dressed in a silver bodysuit, carrying a gym exercise ball, with a picture of Boris Johnson on it. No words are said, just comedic gestures as music plays over until he walks off stage. This sets the tone for the bizarre time that can be expected from the night. Pekka & Strangebone then appear, to call them modern day clowns wouldn’t give justice to the act, as there are so many elements of comedy they use. They grab a guy from the audience, Tom, who unbeknownst to him becomes our host for the evening, performing several times with the double act throughout the show.
This goes on to some great performances by Cassie Atkinson, who plays a Jekyll and Hyde character, one minute a shy and timid girl, to an aggressive northerner shouting obscenities. Oh Standfast, a man shouting out some hilarious comments and poetry, one of which called London East ‘You say you have edge and a rock & roll spirit, But you are wearing one of those jumpers with a shirt sewn in it.’ The music performed by Joe DeVivre & the Circle of Friend was outstanding, with hilarious versions of such songs as Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, Hurt by Nine Inch Nails and best of all Khia’s My Neck, My Back.
The highlight of the night was the performance by Holly Burn, portraying a number of characters such as George Foreman, the Geordie foreman, but it was her character Evian, attempting to drink a can of Coke that stole the show. This sketch lasted a good five minutes with not a word spoken, but with the whole room in laughter and in tears. It is clear to see why Harry Hill calls her “best comedy newcomer” and even more understandable when Eddie Izzard calls her “sexy and bonkers like Twin Peaks”.
There are several videos played throughout the evening, an interview with a caterpillar, that won’t metamorphosis and continually eats, to the dismay of her butterfly mother. A group called Ugg Girls running around a shopping mall causing havoc. CGI Brows, a new technology adding emphasis to scenes via computer generated eyebrows, but it is The Hand Model by Burge & Way that steal the title of best video sketch. Not to give away too much but “show a little bit of knuckle” sums up the hilarious tone of the video. Links to some of the videos can be found via the Facebook link below the article.
Speaking to Cassie Atkinson, who both organises the event and stars in the show, states “it’s not normally this weird”. However it is the combination of the surreal and weirdness portrayed by the acts that really makes this event stand out against others. We are so used to seeing comedy shows such as Live at the Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow and these comedy acts, whilst funny, are seeming old hat in comparison to the experimental comedy of The Spectacular Spectrum of Now.
This is a must see comedy show for anyone in London.
For more information about the acts and future events please visit the links below.
https://www.facebook.com/spectacularspectrumofnow
