Review: Downton Abbey Fans Will Love UPSIDE DOWNTON, Others Not So Much
4 out of 5 stars
Upside Downton, a parody of the hit television show Downton Abbey has made its way to Toronto after successful runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in London. Starring Luke Kempner, who provides all the voices for 36 characters, this innovative one man show clocks in at just over an hour and is absolutely hilarious... if you've watched at least a couple of season of Downton Abbey.
The plot is simple: the estate is on the brink of financial ruin, and to complicate matters, a wedding is announced! This will only mean more expense, money that the Earl of Grantham just doesn't have. Celebrities, cultures and eras hilariously crash and collide in ways that are totally unexpected, as the staff of the Abbey decides to do all they can to raise funds to save the estate.
Kempner expertly delivers one one-liner after the other, while maintaining excellent pace, weaving together a perfectly timed episode of Downton Abbey, all live in front of an audience. A few of his segments were just a tad on the long side - but Kempner noted in some quirky asides he'll be changing a few of the jokes throughout the run to better fit Canadian audiences.
All of Kempner's impressions are spot on. His impression of Dame Maggie Smith had the audience laughing hysterically and it never gets old. Other standout impressions are those of Daisy the assistant to the cook, and Mr. Carson.
One hilarious segment had the cast of the series thinking about turning it into a musical, and another had the cast taking reality television lessons from Kim Kardashian. Other reality stars also make guest appearances, including Chef Gordon Ramsay. There are pop culture references galore, which somehow perfectly mesh with 1912 England.
If you aren't familiar enough with the series to be able to name the residents of the house, however, you'll probably end up lost and unable to appreciate much of the humor.
For fans of Downton Abbey, Upside Downton will make for a great night out at the theatre.
For tickets, visit Mirvish.com. Now through October 18th.
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