THE OXFORD TIMES, Wednesday 4 April by Angie Johnson

Improvisation whiz kids Gonzo Moose tickled my ribs mightily ...with their latest fun spoof I'm an Aristocrat Get Me Out of Here! This time the company have created a hilarious retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but as the mysterious hero of this quirky tale is called Le Grand Pois (leader of the resistance group Les Petits Pois!) clearly they are not taking their history too seriously. It is a sprightly tale of derring-do set against the backdrop of the French Revolutionary Terror - with the odd head (or other body part) being spliced off now and then.

Three highly talented artists bring to life a host of colourful  characters in this very surreal show. Particularly pleasing was Lauren Silver's dazzling Marie Antoinette, complete with a cheeky Essex girl accent and truly charming daftness, while Mark Conway is especially hilarious as Louis XVI and as the revolutionaries' favourite artist -- Jacques Louis David. The narrative of this fantastical show is strongly powered along by Jonathan Peck as the evil chief of the Secret Police -- De Rein. He is equally as funny as the other cast members but his presence kind of makes sense of everything.

A clever set design made this epic unfold splendidly... Minimalist scaffolding converts from a palace, to a gaol, a carriage, a sailing ship, etc, etc all within seconds -- keeping the pacy action at top speed. Weaving the whole enterprise together was tight, witty, and inventive direction from Abigail Anderson, who brought this lovable production to rip-roaring, giddy life.

There were songs and jokes - decapitations and sword fights. Love stories rubbed shoulders with political intrigue, while comedy both physical and verbal had the audience laughing all the way through.
It's a hoot and you can catch it again in Oxfordshire at the Chipping Norton Theatre on 10 May.

I'm An Aristocrat, Get Me Out Of Here, Thursday 10th May, 7.45pm. Tickets: £13, £11 conc.  Box Office 01608 642350 or book on line by going to the live theatre section.