I like to play squash, keep fit and have an interest in the stockmarket. I hope you enjoy reading my...
I like to play squash, keep fit and have an interest in the stockmarket. I hope you enjoy reading my opinions if you are here.
Member since:09.05.2001
Reviews:27
Members who trust:7
I decided to buy this DVD to be in on the jokes colleagues at work were making after having watched the show themselves. I had already seen the show on television and found it to be quite funny but not a real side splitter. If you haven’t seen the League of Gentlemen before, it is basically a dark comedy starring sordid and troubled characters. The DVD cost about £20 from HMV and is just over one and a half hours in length.
The show is performed by the cast of Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith a talented trio of actors who play many different characters. I found the cast to be so talented that I actually believed they were the characters, even in the situations where they dress up as women. All of the show takes place in front of a live audience.
The show is divided into two parts, the first part involves the cast dressed up in tuxedos and acting out certain sketches, whereas in the second part the cast are dressed up in full costume. Certain sketches I enjoyed in the first part of the show include “Go Johnny Go Go Go!!!” (all about a strange card game), “Scott” (find out what was really on the group of Antarctic explorers minds) and “Pam Doove” (a sketch about a shy actress who comes out of her shell when acting Shakespeare). The second part of the show is very good, some of the material has been taken from the TV show but some of it is entirely new. Characters who appear in the second half include Edward and Tubbs (A LOCAL SHOP FOR LOCAL PEOPLE!!!), incompetent vet Dr Chinnery, sinister German teacher Herr Lipp (ALL IST KLAR!!!) and wife stealing gypsy Poppa Lazaroo (I HAVE PEGS DAVE!!!). There is also quite a long sketch in the second part of the show about job centre battle axe Pauline who has a love of pens and a loathing of the unemployed.
The extras on the DVD include a few sketches taken from other live shows at different venues, a screen saver and a phone call recording called BIG WOMAN! The phone call involves listening to sinister answer phone messages left by someone who you think is probably a stalker with a penchant for large ladies. At the end of the series of answer phone messages the stalker finds out that what he thinks is a big woman is actually a big man (YOU’RE A REAL GOOD KID!).
I found the DVD to be quite a good way to entertain friends who had never seen the show on television before, everyone I showed it to seemed to find it hysterically funny (especially Herr Lipp). You don’t really need to have seen the TV show to get the jokes on the DVD.
Personally I found this DVD with the live element considerably more entertaining than the TV show. I think the cast are much better at live shows compared to the carefully produced comic satires shown on TV. As far as I know this is the only live performance available from the League of Gentlemen, because they are so good at the live format it would be nice to see them record another performance.
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your my wife now dave! hmmm, i think this series is vile! glad you liked it tho! nic
roberthart 28.01.2003 16:49
hiya, interesting op - i can see (having watched the tv show) how it woulld probably work better as a live performance. Might give it a go, thanks.
Silverback 28.01.2003 07:16
Very good, useful op. I think some of their material comes from their original Radio 4 show - you can still get this on tape - it's interesting to hear what the TV series/live show grew out of. And it's one of my precious things... Paul
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Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
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Jan 27th, 2003
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