The Incomplete Guide to ABBA Voyage and The Comedy about Spies
In which Vanessa reviews some recent London experiences after this newsletter went on a hiatus due to her and Elliot’s separate travels
Before we get into the depths of it all, thank you for your patience, dear readers. Both Elliot and I had our own extended America sojourns (mine to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, his to Orlando, Washington DC and New York City), which put publication on pause. While Elliot will be heading up to the Edinburgh Fringe this August, and I shall be back in America in December, we won’t clash with those trips and your coverage should be uninterrupted, if not entirely scheduled.
But without further ado, here are some incomplete guides to more cultural experiences from in and around London.
ABBA Voyage
When I was a nascent adult, there was a blog that had me captivated: The (now defunct) Unclutterer (that, and The Simple Dollar, also no longer a blog, had me in a chokehold. And yet, I was the life of the party, as my friends can attest). In particular, there was a post series which amused me greatly: the regular “uni-tasker” review.
Erin Condon would select an item, often one she had seen in a home goods store, as the kitchen section tends to be a goldmine for this endeavour. It would have a singular purpose, say, like a wedge-apple slicer (sure, you could make up another function, like slicing kohlrabi, but it’s not intended). And Erin would lampoon its disutility, for taking up precious space in your house when it couldn’t do more than one thing, creating clutter.
I always thought something that only had one purpose seemed ill-thought through, redundant, and indulgent. ABBA Voyage changed my mind.
I can’t share any photos or videos with you, as per the request of the production, so get ready for another one of Vanessa’s reviews that isn’t a review.
The best way to reach the venue, also known as ABBA Voyage, is by DLR at the Pudding Mill Lane station. Because of this, the final part of your journey from anywhere to this experience will be in the company of other concert-goers. This alone already sets the tone for what you will witness.
Attendance did not discriminate between the ages or genders. We spoke to people who had travelled from Germany, Spain and Ireland - even at short notice. People were dressed for the occasion: cheaply, expensively, casually, in costume (but no afros!), or in their sparkliest gear.
When making the decision to see the show, I had opted for a seat (yes, I need that back support), but the dance pit right in front of the stage was just as popular, and the seated dance booths, giving you more personal space, filled up quickly too. The staggered rows gave ample height and leg room, one of the benefits of this custom-built venue, compared to modern concert venues like the O2, or traditional performance venues like many West End theatres.
Drinks, as is to be expected, were priced with the secure knowledge that the venue was operating a monopoly; signs by the entrance confirmed that no alcohol was allowed beyond that point (though water is fine). Now that I’ve been, do take the advice seriously to not queue pointlessly at the ‘main’ bar, and instead have courage to approach one of the concourse bars, behind the first set of doors. It does not commit you to staying within the arena.
As for the show: I assure you that the purpose-built performance arena takes full advantage of the ownership of the space. Lighting and set design are fully optimised, so that there is no bad seat in the house. You know there are holograms. But you hear live music, spectacularly performed. This is a uni-tasker, but it does its job perfectly.
ABBA Voyage plays in London, with ticket prices starting at £38.50 (plus a handling fee per transaction).
The Comedy about Spies
By Vanessa Burke
I am an unabashed fan of Mischief Theatre. I have seen nearly every production of theirs live (I’m coming for you, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and Christmas Carol Goes Wrong)! So when their trusty newsletter revealed they were putting on a new show, The Comedy about Spies, I knew I needed tickets.
Staged in the most roomy of classic West End theatres, the Noël Coward Theatre, there’s only minor quibbles about the production - being the cheapskate I am, I selected Balcony seats for the performance. Unfortunately, at our height, this cut off the view for a particular way of staging about one-third of the action. We were informed in advance that this was the case, and monitors had been installed for us to direct our view to instead. This may not give you the immersive feeling you’re looking for, so understand the cost implications ahead of time!
There’s also the opening scene, which feels like a bit that was too good to drop - and possibly inspired the whole thing - but doesn’t connect with the rest of the plot so well. That said, it leaves you belly-laughing - now you know why it was left in! - and that’s mostly all I ask of comedy performances.
Other than that, Mischief Theatre is once again firing on all cylinders. It has much in common spiritually with its several-times-over predecessor, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, in that the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society is not the vehicle for storytelling, and this is a story at a discrete time in history. The sixties are rife for spy parodies, with the Austin Powers films, Archer, No One Lives Forever (my favourite video game series), and many more pulling from this era for comedic purposes (yes, I will complete my Bond re-watch series, even if nobody was asking for it).
Of course, spy movies were a significant influence on this show, with it reminding me of The Man Who Knew Too Little, and the Naked Gun movie series. However, it takes some of its best set design cues from the era more generally, invoking Doris Day and Rock Hudson films too (well, in particular Pillow Talk, which I’ll count as the start of the sixties). Its stunt scenes are a revelation for a company that has always been known to lean into its pratfalls and slapstick comedy.
We saw a performance with Matt Cavendish in the role of Bernard, and he did a fabulous job, inhabiting the role perfectly, and adding to the character with his physicality and even vocalisation. I was also pleased to see Chris Leask take on an expanded role - his accent work outclassed the usually-impeccable Charlie Russell (who was no slouch herself). Finally, Nancy Zamit is a delight, leaning into the eccentricities of her unexpected character.
The Royal Variety Performance 2024, which gave a teaser of what was to come.
If you know Mischief Theatre’s caliber of performances, this is not one to miss. If you’re new to them, take those videos for a spin and see if it doesn’t make you groan and laugh all at the same time. It reminds you of an era of comedy gone by - not the inappropriate stuff, but the laughs based on clean humour. I dare you not to chuckle. And in times like ours, that’s what should motivate you to buy a ticket.
The Comedy about Spies plays in at the Noël Coward Theatre in London, with ticket prices starting at £10 (booking direct with Mischief, no handling fees apply).