Frank Hovis, a disgusting end of the pier act, ably played by John Sparkes, takes to the stage. To clarify, he is disgusting, not the end of the pier… unless that is the end where he is. He arrives carrying four pints of lager, which he proceeds to spill onto the stage. This was obviously a man of character who doesn’t know his Rs from his elbow. He does, however, know his arses, and is, at times, extremely funny.
For 45 minutes, Frank waxes his way through Filth without actually using a rude word, which, considering the subject matter was a rare feat indeed. Dressed in a horrific yellow suit (which we discovered had been down the sewer), Frank sets out to explain, in suitably graphic detail (no rude words remember!) just how grim old folks’ homes and old age wards really are. He continues in the same vein moving through anecdotes about his wife, incontinence, his divorce, a ride on a taxi and what the real symbol of the Church should be.
A number of his jokes were tired many years ago, yet this somehow adds to Frank’s loser character, and his finishes and twists on these old timers make you sit up and listen.
His attention to detail, albeit on subjects of a scatological nature, is faultless. While I laughed out loud – again a rare feat indeed – I wish I could say that it was so funny that I shat myself. It wasn’t and I didn’t.
That said, my highlight was the “I love you Moboto” story, at which I am still laughing. That alone is worth going to see the show. I entered and left the auditorium to the music of “The Man Who Broke The Bank at Monte Carlo ” with only a handful of other audience. This man deserves a bigger audience, as it would be a shame if the bank broke Frank Hovis.
3/5
Alexander Donald
