In Cooped, introduced as a ‘gothic romance novella’, Spymonkey play between, above and beyond the boundaries of genre in a 90 minute ode to melodrama and the absurd. Heroine Laura arrives in a mansion of mammoth proportions, beautifully depicted, however, by a set that combines the architectural skill of a primary school pantomime and nativity display.

Spymonkey develop their humour through a finely balanced combination of the anticipated and the unexpected. Who, after all, expects the characters of a Hitchcock-esque narrative to break out into a number appropriate for only the Eurovision Song Contest? The sheer physical strength of the performers provides for some brilliant moments of slapstick clowning at it’s best, in particular the seizure plagued heroine Laura (Petra Massey) and dashing Forbes Murdston (Toby Parks) embarking in a struggle that defies gravity.

At times the character filled Capitol Theatre hindered the performers as the diverse soundtrack drowned the vocal energy, leaving parts of the story difficult to follow. Their strong working history as an ensemble is evident, and with a performance history as comprehensive as the UK’s Spymonkey, it’s hard to believe they’ve never ventured to Australia before now.

The best moments within the show occur as the ensemble surprise each other and, although resulting in a momentary break of focus, is a delectable display of the joy the performers experience when working together, a laughter that is inevitably contagious.

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