There seems to be no such thing as a losing battle, at least according to failing lawyer David Farquar, Q. C. (Richard Thomson). Facing an impossible defensive against a clear- cut case of Murder One, and his sidekick Martin (Matt Green) show disdain for the prosecution by delivering the defence “through the medium of acting”. Sound silly? Well this is only the beginning.
It sounds like a baggage handlers nightmare, but The Big Briefcase has all the hallmarks of a boys” own adventure, but with more drugs and prostitutes. The silly story, aka the defence, is a hilarious affair that fuses mistaken identity, sexual awakening (and perversity), violence and puppets to produce a fast paced tale interspersed with bickering between counsel.
As is demanded of such a tale, Thomson and Green bash out their slightly skewed version of the straight man/ funny man routine with a “lashings and lashings of ginger beer” panache. It is clear that they work well together as the beautifully choreographed set pieces come of without a hitch.
The real delight comes from their obvious desire to entertain. The characters rivalry often spills over into the audience with the occasional physical adlib - a knowing wink or gesture - drawing the crowd to one side or the other. The rivalry is fierce, with Farquar downplaying his juniorÃs talent despite evidence to the contrary, but the real winner is comedy. The trial jury may not be convinced but the verdict is definitely in on The Big Briefcase - fantastic! Definitely stars of tomorrow, so get your ticket before everyone else realises it!
5/5
Richard Biggs
