The Pun

Jo Randerson’s Skazzle Dazzle

By Tom Doig ⋅ May 5, 2006 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Jo Randerson’s Skazzle Dazzle is an… experience. If your idea of ‘funny’ is famous guys with Scottish accents telling dick jokes, Skazzle Dazzle probably isn’t the show for you. However, if you like weird shit - like watching a woman on the verge of psychosis express herself through ribbon dance’you just might love it.

The premise of Skazzle Dazzle (’an ancient alien abandons her prodigy on planet earth as an experiment’) doesn’t really connect to the rest of the show; it’s more like an excuse for Randerson to wear a silly alien costume, then launch into a series of unforgettable character based routines.

While there is no real plot, there is nautical flag-waving (’Do you guys know sophomore’?), satirical militarism, an incongruous priest who might’ve been in the first draft of Waiting For Godot, existential puppetry, and enough visual gags and bad jokes for half a dozen crappy shows.

All of Randerson’s characters are losers, who fail in their various attempts to entertain the crowd. This is not always funny - in fact, sometimes it’s downright painful to watch. But I can’t help thinking that this is the point. Skazzle Dazzle is a funny show about failing to be funny; an absurdist meta-comedy that makes you question your desire to laugh in the first place.

While many of the routines in Skazzle Dazzle feel like brilliant ideas that need more workshopping - more polishing’this lack of polish also makes Randerson’s show unique, courageous and haunting. I reckon Samuel Beckett would approve.