AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
We want to know what you think! Post your feedback to us at info@spymonkey.co.uk
Or on our facebook page.
And here's the latest about Spymonkey on Twitter
'like cocaine, only legal': audience reaction to our opening at the Lyric Hammersmith, 20th April 2010
Anna (Liverpool) 25/10/09
Dear Spymonkeys
Saturday's matinee was truly marvellous, you caught us unawares in so many ways. My husband laughed until he cried and I was astounded to be picked to be a seagull (I loved it thank you, I would never have volunteered).
But most of all it was the Mermaid/figurehead song. Under normal circumstances I would have found it hilarious but timing is everything and in my case this visit to the theatre was at the end of a week when after over 2 years of unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant and generally trying to stay positive I hit a wall, big time. I spent much of the last week mighty miserable, I almost didn't come to the show, thank goodness I did. So yes I found it hilarious but it was better than that, it was exactly the medicine I needed.
Please can you post it on your website/You Tube?
I don't usually write to say thanks for shows but couldn't hold back from saying something this time. So heartfelt thanks and I'll see you again to be sure.
Richard Adams (Liverpool) 24/10/09
Hi Petra,
A few of my classmates and I came to watch your show, "Moby Dick" last Friday and quite honestly, I've never enjoyed myself more at the theatre! We're currently in our 3rd year of the Acting course at LIPA and it's encouraging to see such special gems like your shows amongst everything else that doesn't always promote an enjoyable career as an actor.
I look forward to seeing your company perform again!
Peter Chrisp (Brighton) 20/10/09
What a show, what a show, what a show!
From my friend, John Helmer: ' I was won over by the sheer range of talents they draw on, some genuinely atmospheric theatrical set pieces and an intelligent understanding of some of the modern critical debates ...around the novel, its narrative voice and the significance of Ahab's obsession with the whale. Astonishingly, I think they got the book, despite all the dicking around. And actually, Moby Dick itself is full of dicking around: that's why it's so long!'
Chris Routledge blog (Liverpool) 21/10/09
"The comedy is fast-paced, well timed and utterly silly, though this is clearly a literate and affectionate homage to the novel."
Ginger DJ Rob blog (Brighton) 18/10/09
"the best comedy theatre I've seen for years. More please!"
Liverpool Aesthete blog (Liverpool) 20/10/09
"Instead of falling flat on it’s face as so many of it’s characters in their slapstick routines, it soared on the high seas."
Babergh District Council - Youth Theatre Reviews (Ipswich) 9/10/09
Spymonkey’s genius new interpretation of Herman Merville’s ‘Moby Dick’, tells the story of Tony Parks, a man with an ambition to recreate the great novel on stage. The cast of four throw themselves into this challenge, creating a piece that is wildly entertaining for the audience, but extremely frustrating for Tony Parks.
Spymonkey’s cast of four, made up of Aitro Basauri, Petra Massey, Toby Park and Stephen Kreiss, were all in my opinion, equally hilarious. It’s delightful to see actors give way to simple childness silliness. I found Basauri, in the role of Ishmael, was particularly endearing and interacted well with the audience.
Massey, as the only female in the cast, had a number of marvellous roles, but it has to be said that favourite was the mermaid figure head who sung a jolly, although slightly crude, song about how she wished she was fertile which had everyone erupting with laughter.
I absolutely loved the set. With so many performances going for the simple staging lately, it was great to see half a boat and sail on stage at the Wolsey. It seemed completely real, the only thing missing being the salty tang of the ocean. Just a glance of the blue and green lights made me feel wet, they enhanced the feel of the sea even further. I especially enjoyed the lighting effects during the storm scene.
Directed by Jos Houben, Moby Dick is the antithesis of what you would expect when watching a stage adaptation of a classic novel, it’s quirky, cheeky and downright funny. I suspect that for the next several days I will find myself laughing outloud, much to the confusion of people around me.
This production of Moby Dick would not be suitable for children under the age of twelve, but I suggest if you are an adult longing to get in touch with your inner silly child, go and book a ticket.
Lori Thurston East Bergholt High School
Mat B (Lancaster) 8/11/09
hi,
Just wanted to email all you lovely people at 'Spymonkey' to give you all a big thankyou for the entertainment you brought Lancaster with 'Moby Dick'. It was probably the funniest (and bizarre) theatre i have ever had the fortune to see... My only wish is your return with new material and old (as seen as I haven't seen them).
I wish you all the best for the future and thankyou again for one of the funniest nights out (although i was inside a theatre so im not sure whether it counts)!
Mat.B
Hi, saw you guys at the Dukes, Lancaster tonight and was blown away! ... totally absorbing, totally hilarious, sooooo clever and original and diverse and .... well... wow! Will rave about it for months... THANK YOU!
(Please add me to your mailing list)
Tracey x
from the Spymonkey Facebook page...
Ebony Grace Drummond
I saw Moby Dick with my GCSE drama class and oh my god we were crying with laughter trying out all your scenes out for ourselves back in our class. We thought you were amazing, please do more shows x
Dickie Goodwin
What a wonderful week of training in London with Aitor - and Petra, Toby and Tanya. Competition and games are right up my street. Of course they make us laugh every day, but who would have thought that attention to the rules of the game could produce such a comprehensive system for generating laughter in others. This r...evelatory and instructive workshop was conducted in a delightful atmosphere of play, honesty and frank-speaking and it is going to help me design the perfect Olympic opening ceremony. Aitor you are clever to use minutiae of tactics to help us discover the balance of discipline, courage, concentration and intuition required to win the approval of an audience ! I experienced the highs and lows of being laughed at, with and around. Bravo Aitor. Bravo Spymonkey. You deserve a medal.
Tracey Johnston November 10 at 9:56pm
totally blown away - you guys are Soooooo talented and versatile, hilarious, clever, imaginative, unexpected ... just more than i could have ever imagined - thanks for an amazing laugh and fantastic memories to ride on ... can't stop raving about your performances - incredible - thanks for all the hard work. Pleeeeese ...come back to Lancaster asap (but next time with more extensive advertising cos others missed out!!!) Take care x
Emma Wintle November 10 at 2:42am
My two minutes of fame starring in the Lancaster Dukes Spymonkey choir has left me with the performing bug! All that jaunty-angle-wearing sailor cap malarkey has gone to my head...Fab co-choristers and a real pleasure and hoot working with such a hilarious and energetic quartet of a cast. Bravo! xxxx ·
Anni Tracy November 8 at 11:58pm
What fun to be a member of the bright eyed "Monkeyettes", will there be an end to the questions of why? Lancaster loved you, come back soon. ·
Brian Garvey November 8 at 5:58pm
I saw the show last night in Lancaster and loved it. I think my favourite bits were the dance rountines (the sailor one and the one with the whale and the sea-plants (?)). Oh, and the whale noises were great. But the whole thing was great! Thanks.·
Cathy Hornby November 8 at 12:58pm
Advantages of being one of the Bright Eyes - great fun, lovely co-bright things to sing with, got to meet the monkeys, shared the final glory of the crew's hard worked for applause and acclaim, got to see half the show; disadvantages - got to see half the show. Thankyou for coming to Lancaster - please please come again soon - your crazy, creative, intelligent, ingenious, physical theatre is terrificly funny and impressive. Loved what I did get to see (and my husband has related a blow by blow (!) account of the second half which he says was as brilliant as the first)! Cathyxxxx ·
Andy Griffiths November 6 at 3:18am
Amazed at how much energy you guys have got! Thoroughly enjoyed doing my bit with the Cardiff "choir" (does it really matter that nobody knew just WHY we learnt Bright Eyes for that?) and hope I can get to see it sometime from the audience's point of view. Looking forward to your next show! ·
RT Chakrabarty November 5 at 11:41pm
I haven't laughed so much in years, literally rolling with laughter in the aisles...my ribs still hurt!! Spoke to Toby in the bar afterwards and said they should adapt a film next. He suggested Barbarella...
Little Arif November 5 at 6:32pm
the show is awesome. as is the workshop. ill definitely be doing one of the week-long ones at some point. thanks aitor and everyone else for a brilliant day and night! ·
Allan Poole November 3 at 9:06am
Saw them last night in Cardiff, didn't know anything about them prior to turning up! What show.. haven't laughed so much in ages....! ·
Jonathan Macauley November 2 at 4:42pm
Admittedly, it was the last show in Northampton on Saturday 26th September, but it's taken THIS long to recover. Not since Cooped have I laughed so much (who was responsible for that one?), and one of my three companions was desperate to be the seagull. ;) So thanks from me, Emma, Hazel and Rachel.
Graham Farey October 31 at 12:56am
Just home after the show and I loved it.. I went with 4 friends and we all agreed there were some moments were we didint laugh, but overall it was a great night out. I have never seen such an unlikely bunch in all my life.. I too loved the sliding off the stage bit. Excellent.. ·
Sarah McDougall October 31 at 12:52am
Hi Spymonkey - you rock! ·
Julie Martin October 30 at 11:58pm
just saw the show at Canterbury...a true spectacular...I'm exhausted!! Loved the underwater bit, and if anyone had told me I would be singing THAT sone at the end I would never have believed them. Thank you for one of the best nights I have ever had at the theatre, funniest play I have ever seen... ·
Madeleine Ellis October 29 at 9:52pm
An awesome performance; hilariously funny, a wonderful evenings entertainment. Thank you so much - we loved it! ·
Colin George October 29 at 6:35am
Warwick last night. You deserved a larger audience. Fantastic show and a definite highlight amongst many productions seen this year - the whole family were delirious - loved the 'climbing on stage' and cringe-making finale. However I agree with previous post - too many favourite (and funny) bits. Well done cast and all behind the scenes! ·
Sam Richardson October 29 at 12:06am
Thank you for the best night ever!! Just watched you at the warwick arts centre, and laughed so much i nearly had an asthma attack!!! We spent the drive home swapping favourite bits....but there were just too many!!! It was my first encounter of your group so Im sorry I dont know your names yet!! But the guy who played Ishmael....We loved you!!!! Look forward to future events! x·
Carran Waterfield (Coventry) 28/10/09
I loved this mad mad show, I laughed so much it hurt.
Cath Cullinane (Coventry) 27/10/09
Saw Moby @ Warwick last night....Fantastic.....Flippen Funny! Thank you.
Al Shipman (Coventry) 27/10/09
Haven't enjoyed a show so much in a long time, and still giggling to myself days later
Kelly Moretta (Coventry) 27/10/09
Moby Dick has to be the funniest thing I have seen in ages and I can't wait for your next "epic"
Adrian Turrell-Watts (Liverpool) 21/10/09
So glad to finally see you guys in action... Funniest show I've seen in a good while... can't wait for more xxx
Ian D. Hall (Liverpool) 21/10/09
superb show in Liverpool tonight, great to meet Petra (beautiful) and the extraordinary Aitor Bassuri, can't wait to have you guys back! Ian
Deborah Lade (Brighton) 18/10/09
Just had to tell you what a lovely show you put in last night at Brighton Corn Exchange. I have seen you many times now and every time you seem to get better. Thank you for providing a brilliant finish to my birthday.
Myriam Tisler (Brighton) 18/10/09
Wonderful show last night guys in Brighton, great acting, story AND costume/set design !!, Wishing you luck for the national tour, woop woop!!!! xx
Mark Best (Brighton) 18/10/09
Just saw your show at the Corn Exchange and it was AMAZING! I haven't seen anything like it before. There are so many spectacular and histerical moments I'm having trouble trying to remember them all! As an audience member i was captivated ...from the very beginning and didn't want it to end. Can't wait for you all to come back to Brighton! PURE GENIUS!
Chloé Rosolek (Bristol) 14/10/09
come back to bristol!!!
Martyn Emsley (Bristol) 14/10/09
one word for spymonkey....AMAZING!! never seen anything like it...brillaint!!
Josh Giles (Bristol) 14/10/09
heyo, show on thursday was awsome best ive ever seen, so congrates. and thanks aswell. workshop was funny. Aitor your a funny man! Id praise you all but i dont all your names :) thanks again and good luck x
Matt Whittle (Bristol) 14/10/09
Hey, Fan-Fan-Fantastic show in Bristol this week guys! Check out the review here: http://www.suityourselfmagazine.co.uk/stage-review-moby-dick/
Cheers! Suit Yourself Magazine x
Lewis Johns (Bristol) 14/10/09
Heyyyyyyy, Agreeing with Brett underneath, Absolutley brilliant, really thoroughly enjoyed it, And again the workshop with Aitor was really fun, (Eurovision Song Contest) was so much fun :D And the baby game haha! Thanks again Aitor. And best of luck in brighton next, I may come again to see it in the Wales Millenium Centre (My hometown) :D
Brett Cambridge (Bristol) 14/10/09
hii guys would just like to say that the performance last night was amazing! and it was very inspiring! and the work shop today with Aitor was goood to! so thanks!:)
David Rush (Bury St Edmunds) 12/10/09
You guys brilliant last Wednesday night in Bury St Edmunds. Moby Dick made me laugh more than anything since Life of Brian. Aitor should play the next remake of any Peter Sellers film. Thank you
Chris Yarnell (Ipswich) 11/10/09
thanks so so much for letting us be in your show. all of us in ipswich are quoting it around the wolsey and discovering a love for a theatre style that we had not had enough exposure to in the past. please come back and perform again as we all think you are rather hilarious!!!
Sam Edwards (Ipswich) 11/10/09
I go to the New Wolsey Theatre youth group in Ipswich, I sang in the choir in the production of 'moby dick' and thoroughly enjoyed working with spymonkey :) An amazing experience
Ben Robertson (Ipswich) 11/10/09
im young but i saw moby dick it was get i loved pete i think his name was the pupet
Charlotte Fletticus (Ipswich) 11/10/09
i was in the choir at new wolsey :D es war sehr kool
Lori Thurston (Ipswich) 10/10/09
Saw Moby Dick last night at the New Wolsey, Ipswich. LOVED IT! Never a dull moment, Amazing =]
Simon Ainslie (Southampton) 10/10/09
Went to see Moby Dick at southamption'S Nuffield ... It was brilliant. Had me laughing all the way through. Thanks :)
Ian Coates (London) 9/10/09
Came to see Moby Dick at Bury St Edmunds last Monday and had a fantastic time. You guys are great and so, so funny. Hope to see you again sometime.
Sticky Mince blog: www.shammois.blogspot.com
15th October 2009
"Amazingly moving..."
From Hypothetical Birds blog
Friday, October 2, 2009
Spymonkey....BAhaHAhaHAHAHA!!!!!
I saw Spymonkey last night. They were very very funny.
The show was called Moby Dick, though I'm not sure how much of the plot of the original they actually followed... It reminded me a bit of a Goon Show actually - which is really no bad thing.
Not much seems to have been said about it, so I'll follow suit - wouldn't want to ruin would I? All I will say is this: There are no stairs where he comes from.
From our YouTube page:
TheHappypappychappy has made a comment on Spymonkey's Moby Dick titles:
Saw Moby Dick last night in northampton, it was fantastic, i couldnt stop laughing throughout :) my cheeks where hurting haha. Great adaptation.. i sort of understood a kidn of story line, but the spontaneous randomness was great! rather took me by surprise at the finale, aslmost bombarded. The show was great, definately come back soon! ive told everyone i know about you! ! !
Subject:
from: Ben Doney, Plymouth
date:
16 June 2009
Dear Spymonkey Team, hopefully this is the right e-mail address to be using, I visited the Monkeys today (16/06/09) in Moby Dick at the Plymouth Theatre Royal drum Theatre, the performers said that comments are always welcome, I enjoyed the show so much, I thought I would send you guys a kind word.
I'm only 15, and I understand how younger audiences can be hard to impress, but your brilliant use of physical comedy, the randomness and cheek of the whole performance, had me in stitches in places. In particular I enjoyed the audience participation, the comedy of becoming the wind and having to hush "the story tellers rival" (forgive me for not knowing the performers names) is, however ridiculously stupid, incredibly entertaining, this performer in particular came face to face with me today, adding more entertainment value. The female performer was hilarious, stroking people’s faces with the "fish gloves" and using cheesy, yet very effective voices.
I hope to someday see another performance by your team, thanks for the awesome show,
Best wishes,
Ben Doney
Subject: Moby Dick
From: Sam Jones, Plymouth
Date: 18 June 2009 22:11:33 BST
I have just seen your show at The Drum theatre in Plymouth and had to email you and tell you that it was absoultey fantastic..
it was the funniest thing i have seen in a very long time.
goodluck for all your future ventures and you have a new lifelong fan.
Sam Jones
Subject: Moby Dick Plymouth
From: Rosie Jenkins, Plymouth
Date: 18 June 2009 12:35:58 BST
Thank you for making me laugh so much that I cried my mascara off!
Moby Dick was a brilliantly funny performance.
Hope you don’t mind me saying, being of a certain age, I was reminded of Peter Sellers early on, and by the end of the performance, a 21st century version of the Goons. The 21st century NEEDS a group of talented comedians to make them cry laughing. Brilliant!
Rosie Jenkins Plymouth
Subject: Woop!
From: Angelina of Rogue Theatre, Plymouth
Date: 19 June 2009
Hi we loved the show tonight we laughed our pants off! We saw cooped years ago in cornwall. We we working with cal mcCrystal on the infamous day of the dead at the eden project! Thanks again! Angelina
xx
from the Spymonkey Facebook page...
From: Emma Frankton
Date: 17 June 2009
Saw Moby Dick at the Plymouth Drum Theatre and absolutely loved it!!! Best piece of comedy theatre I have seen there!! Please say you'll come back again to entertain us!
Subject:
From: Christine B Adams, Plymouth
Date: 15 June 2009
Hello
You asked for some feedback so here it is!!
Overall I thought the show was fabulous but did think that sometimes the jokes "went on a bit" as in the thunder and lightening when "Ahab" was said, and the head rolling sequence. Also the girl with the rubber rings was repeated - perhaps a different costume would be better.
Also thought that the vicar and the hands was a bit of an old joke, but then again I am an oldie so remember Kenny Everitt when perhaps younger people wouldn't.
I don't think that the magic sequence is needed at all, I found myself wondering what costumes were going to come on next during this as it had the appearance of a fill in, but perhaps that is what you intended.
I thought the audience interaction was great fun, particularly when we had to make the wind and storm noises, brilliant.
Loved the funky dancing and the music and songs.
Thank you for the aftershow talk and a brilliant evening's entertainment.,
Good luck and best wishes to you all.
Christine B Adams
review in the Plymouth Herald 15/06/09:
THE whaling ship Pequod slipped anchor at the Drum Theatre last night and sailed in search of the great white whale Moby Dick. The audience didn't need to be press-ganged into becoming ship mates on this hilarious voyage. read in full
from the Spymonkey Facebook page...
subject: Moby Dick in Newbury
Sarah Haveland wrote
at 11:06am on June 7th, 2009
Saw Moby Dick last night. Brilliant. Having seen Spymonkey several times had gone for the cowardly option and chosen third row seats - these though proved to be extra seats laid on right in front of the front row so pretty exposed. On being seated we were assured by an elderly staff member this wasnt an issue unless it was a comedy?! (despite her growing bewilderment she later proved she was made of stirling stuff by assisting several times). Having steeled outselves however I was almost disappointed that no major audience mangling went on. Absolutely loved it and very highly entertaining as usual - perhaps not enough nudity - well none in fact although Moby Dick's white outfit left us in no doubt - what does Moby mean anyway? Thought the show should have ended on Somewhere Beneath the Sea maybe but what do I know? I also loved the german cowboy stuff pre show. I can play dr finlays casebook on a recorder but not sure how that would help.
Subject: Moby Dick rocks (and the book ain't bad either)
From: James Townsend, Newbury
Date: 5 June 2009
Saw you guys tonights at Newbury - and met Aitor (aka the Iberian Peter Sellers) at the bar. Moby Dick was crazy,mad, astonishing and hysterical. My wife and I loved it - absolutely loved it. The routines were fabulous and I shall be recommending my friends come see it on Saturday. I wish you well on your tour later in the year.
James.
subject: Moby Dick in Barnsley
from: Michael Hoy, Sheffield
date: 23 May 2009
I have to say that i really enjoyed the show last night,in fact i was completely blown away,
i havent seen Spymonkey before, now i'm hooked,the level of professionalism was incredible, more so the style of clown/physical comedy which is my main background,
your show/level of clowning was very inspiring
i wish there was more of this around in the UK, particulary up here in the north.
i couldn't give you any feedback when we met afterwards as with shows/workshops it takes time to assimulate.
after chatting with emily later i wrote down some observations;
the beginning/intro... (you mentioned this was the first time you'd done this) it definately worked and gave a good opening narrative/starting point with the characters from audience perspective.
the randomness; there were a couple of people from Faceless street theatre company at the show, one of them said he she liked the randomn/ freshness which she said is the norm with opening shows, this we all liked too, it would be great if you could keep it like this... you'd mentioned that the cast hadnt really learnt actual story; it doesnt matter, all the better in fact..as long you're all having fun/enjoying/playing in the moment.
we were glad that the story was told in an unstraight/confusing way, because it it was hilarous..
if i can give an example, i saw Steve Rawlings (very famous/established/experienced comedy juggler) last week; his character was very nervous/jittery, bubbling from one routine to the next; you couldn't work out what was actually sponateous/staged, i later learnt he's been doing the same routine for years
this is why i asked you (last night) how much of the show was spontanious..even though i couldnt work out what was staged/spont. i thought it linked well together and worked esp. as you are all good at improvising/dealing with being in the shit..
the parts with Aitor stopping the show and asking everyone if they were alright/still understood the story; brilliant, particualary with him mostly getting everything wrong, word mispronounciation, and you telling him off/getting pissed off a him
the puppet/ the puppetry being so bad, hilarious, brilliant, someone mentioned the moment when Petra started trying to scrub the floor with the puppet.
Emily's best moments
1.Aitor's Moby Dick dance
2.your Oracle (false arms/hands) sermon; i saw the 2nd set/pointy hand way before i was meant to, i dont know if this was on purpose but it was hysterical.
3.Petras man impersonation
i loved the microphone scene, yes it was strange/surreal but i love strange surreal, the build up/ending was great too
there were a couple of moments when the energy went flat,
this worked as it gave the audience the chance to get their breath back as the energy throughout the show was mostly high/full on.
last point; we definately want to come and see this show again!!
great to see you all oop north, looking forward to seeing your act on Sunday
thanks again
Michael Hoy
from the Spymonkey Facebook page...
DominicOn TheRun (Orlando, FL) wrote
at 10:14am on May 23rd, 2009
Watched the Moby Dick Story it was excellent interwoven with truth and paranoia, cabaret, slapstick, soliloquy 'arm rest', junior school physical theatre 'fishfingers' narration and petty jealousy,puppetry of the highest calibre, shadow puppet theatre as well to boot... wrestling oh the wrestling and the brilliant commentary... oh and the references to KES from the man boy(watched it in Barnsley).
Thanks for making me want to watch drama again!
from: Cara Sandys, Eastleigh, 15 May 2009
Loved the show at the Point last night and thanks for bringing some quality to Beastly Eastleigh...Even my 82 year old mum loved it (which, trust me, is praise indeed).
I spoke to Petra after and mentioned I had seen the company in Melbourne and Edinburgh. I am pleased to know the Point are supporting you and hope things work out for another show later in the year.
I know you like feedback, so rather than say what was good (the mermaid song was the highlight!) here are some suggestions on how to trim the show...
The boxing scene, I don't think really worked. Also the boarding the boat at the start, with the actors going through the door, went on a bit too long. I did hear a comment behind me saying they loved it all apart from the nudity (which actually wasn't that funny....unlike in previous shows when it has been hilarious)
The musical stuff was all great (loved the sailor's dance) All in all, another fantastic show.
Regards
Cara