| 02 September 2010
Melbourne-based trio The Suitcase Royale have been performing together since 2004, and now they’ve brought their “Junkyard Theatre” style to the Pleasance in a hilarious tale of a boxer whose wife’s apparent murder is investigated by an undercover private detective. Their rag ‘n’ bone band is ultra cool, on contra bass, guitar, drums and harmonica, playing songs involved with the plot at intervals throughout the play, creating the ambience of a bluesy run-down bar. The odd angles of the set, the squeaky voice on the other end of a phone call, and the use of streaming background image to imply movement are just a few of the references to neo-noir comic-strip style of the likes of Sin City – the whole show has a strong sense of style. These guys know what they’re doing.
The troupe are lighthearted and relaxed; the frailty of the makeshift set allows room for potential mishaps and in turn witty improvisations. At times it’s difficult to tell quite how unintentional the set or props falling apart really is – it’s like they’re itching to get off-script.
This is an excellent piece of theatre, wildly entertaining and inventive. Three smart, funny, good looking young Aussie guys, one hip and slick band that kept me laughing for about an hour – of course it’s one of my favourite shows of this year.
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