I’ve read some of the early reviews of Link Show 27 and while I agree with some of it, I’m also wondering whether I went to a different show.
Still have the ticket stub so I’m going to go ahead and make a quick check…it says Link Show 27 which means I was there and at this very moment I can’t look anyone in the face and say it was the best ever. In fact, I left disappointed.
I’ll debate anyone who is willing to meet me two Saturdays from now over a cup of hot chocolate at Oasis Café, Carmichael Street at around 3 pm about which Link Show stands out as an terrific piece of work. Without question, it was Link Show 25 which I saw three times because it was that good and every time I recall that experience, I get goose bumps.
Now if someone was thinking of rewarding Ron Robinson and his fantastic team (they are great) for any Link Show in recent years it has to Link Show 25. The follow-ups have not matched the quality and overall comedic genius of Link Show 25. And, I say this respectfully, the most recent instalment has been a slight bore.
Link Show 27 was full of hype and it held much promise, well for me at least, so I purchased my ticket and got settled in for some laughs. I sat dumbfounded some five minutes into the show when a few skits had slipped by and not one of the jokes tickled me, but I braved a smile because the people next to me were seemingly having a good time.
A few more of the skits went by and I was barely interested; at this point I was really worried. Where did my sense of humour go? I quickly texted two friends who were also at the show to find out if I needed to make some kind of adjustment to my attitude and guess what; they were fretting.
So what was the problem? The focus appeared to have been more on the build-up of the jokes than the actual punch line so when it came the impact was more like a slap on the wrist than a punch in the gut. The audio at the National Cultural Centre also did not help and though my seat was one of the better ones I struggled to hear some of the actors; I struggled a great deal.
I concluded that too many of the skits were familiar and that the content/jokes didn’t appear much different from previous years like the market scene; the exchange between the two women who sat discussing politics and everyday life and the overseas call to ‘uncle’. For a Link Show junkie like me, some of that material is going to come over as “way too familiar” unless it was really distinct from previous years and I just didn’t get that feel.
Since I kicked things off with why I left disappointed let me end on this note; Link Show still has the edge over the competition when it comes to clever comedy. I like a good joke, but a clever joke is ever funnier and that has always been the appeal of Link for me. I get to watch a production where the writing is sharp and witty, and funny.
There is efficiency in how the skits run, which continues to impress me; “only at Link Show” I would say when I see how the scene jumps from one to another without the pains of a delay. I also like the songs that they come up with; again, clever political commentary.
Don’t get me wrong, Link Show 27 had its moments which is why I opened by saying that I agree with some of the reviews which praised it for solid entertainment but overall, I was just not impressed. Of the skits, I loved the one which addressed the issue of domestic violence and with actress, Simone Dowding as a lead it touched me on the all the right levels.
And one other thing, actress Sonia Yarde should get a regular spot on TV playing Dr Faith Harding even after the PNCR names its presidential candidate. She nailed the role so well, honestly, that was made-for-TV stuff. It reminded me of US actress Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin during the 2008 elections campaign. (thescene@stabroeknews.com)
