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Comedy's Past: Comedians Revive Old Shows
16 Dec
Summary
- Comedians Jack Rooke and Joseph Morpurgo are reviving 2015 shows.
- Reviving comedy shows is rare due to the artform's focus on surprise.
- The revivals offer perspective on comedy's evolution and past themes.
Live comedy typically prioritizes new material, making revivals of past shows a rarity. However, performers like Jack Rooke and Joseph Morpurgo are challenging this norm by bringing decade-old sets back to the stage, exploring their enduring relevance and new audience appeal. This trend is supported by production companies like Berk's Nest, which has restaged both Rooke's "Good Grief" and Morpurgo's "Soothing Sounds for Baby."
Morpurgo's "Soothing Sounds for Baby," a 2015 Edinburgh comedy award nominee, imagines an interview on Desert Island Discs. While still a "potent draught of high-concept comedy," its surprise element is diminished for those who saw it previously. The show features Morpurgo playing various characters and recounting a youthful romance, set against a soundtrack of kitsch records.
Rooke's "Good Grief," which predates his hit sitcom "Big Boys," resonated more strongly on its revival. Rooke contextualizes the material with reflections on his journey, offering a more intimate and affecting performance. The show explores his grief over his father's death as a teenager, using personal anecdotes and family video clips.
