★★★★★
Diana: the Untold and Untrue Story
I looked up the meaning of brilliant in the dictionary recently and it
simply said, ‘see Linus Karp in Diana Untold at The Pleasance.’ As a reviewer
need I say more? Yet there are many more superlatives that also cover this zany,
madcap, original, clever, funny, sharp, hysterical, breathtakingly inventive
piece of creativity from the miraculous mind of writer, producer, director and indisputably,
star of the show, Linus Karp.
With recent reports saying that Netflix had over 1.1million views this
week for Series Five of The Crown, it is equally exciting that the originality
and undoubted pizzazz inherent in Karp’s Diana: the Untold and Untrue Story is
also garnering well-deserved, sold-out performances – you have been warned!
Shamelessly quoting the show’s excellent blurb, ‘Diana is a queer, comedic reimagining of the people's
princess combining theatre, drag, puppetry, multimedia, original music, dance
and a lot of queer joy.’ And by the reaction of the audience it was refreshing
and contagiously uplifting to hear such heartfelt and spontaneous laughter.
Karp tells
the well-worn story of Princess Diana in a series of frenzied tableaux,
highlighting vividly the high and low points of an extraordinary life. Whilst
ostensibly a one-woman show, he is accompanied by his trusted Powerpoint
presentation but with huge supporting performances from Gerri Allen as the
Queen, Zina Badeam as God and co-director and stage-manager extraordinaire, Joseph
Martin as Prince Charles and a rollicking-good rampant performance as Camilla.
Further, Karp has once again exploited his penchant for audience participation
with some knock-out, pertinent and, at times, panic-stricken embodiments, especially
the superb performances of Diana’s parents!
But without
doubt, this is yet another phenomenal creation from the outrageously special force
of nature that is Linus Karp!
Diana: the Untold and Untrue Story plays at the Pleasance Theatre in London until 26
November 2022 and touring nationwide thereafter, details at linktr.ee/untruediana
Cast
Diana - Linus Karp
The Queen - Geri Allen
God - Zina Badran
Prince Charles/Camilla - Joseph Martin
Crew
Artistic Director/Producer - Linus Karp
Associate Director/Stage Manager - Joseph Martin
Designer - Amy Pitt
Choreographer - Sam Carlyle
Composer/Graphic Designer - Wesley Maddocks
LX Designer - Ebbe Rodtborg
Photo and Videography - Dave Bird
Video editor - Daniel Boylett
Drag and Make-up Artist - Joshua Young
Puppetry Artist - Tara Boland
BSL consultant and interpreter - Nicola Williams
PR - Chloé Nelkin Consulting
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