Charlie and Stan at Wilton’s Music Hall

The lives of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel are renowned throughout the world. Although hearing their names side-by-side is less common, Told by an Idiot’s production of Charlie and Stan explores their time together, working for Frank Karno’s company before they reached worldwide fame. Under the direction of Paul Hunter, the show returns to London as part of the International Mime Festival 2023.

Mime – an art that could be seen as niche – becomes widely accessible here, as the actors on stage adopt the “silent movie” trope. Though, at first, it can be unsettling to those who are unfamiliar with the art, the audience is quickly won over by the jubilant drums, played by Frank Karno (Nick Haverson), and the jive that sets everything in motion, bringing the experience to life.

We catch glimpses early on of Danielle Bird (Chaplin), and Jerone Marsh Reid (Laurel), who in the opening sequence play members of the circus, and their physical expertise shines through. Bird brings finesse, vibrancy and fun to the character of Chaplin, managing to portray in full colour a character most only know in black-and-white. Her witty physical comedy makes for engaging watching and leaves the audience in constant stitches at even the slightest of twitches. Reid’s doe-eyed depiction of Laurel is the perfect contrast. Watching them is tantamount to seeing miming dolphins swimming in synchrony.

One of the hardest things to achieve with mime is telling a story, and that’s evident in this particular production. The physical effort of having to relay a narrative to viewers used to words instead of movements means that many of the actors on stage are engaging in full-body workouts by the time the “real” story begins. However, this is not a vain effort, as it helps the audience to submerge fully into what unfolds.

There is very little to criticise in this show; if one had to pick something, it would be that one cannot look away from the stage for even a moment. Due to the nature of the “silent film” delivery, with a momentary sneeze or cough (or god forbid a toilet break) it is possible to be completely lost until the next title card. However, what it lacks in continuity is made up for in inclusivity: the fact that mime is completely silent means that for audience members who struggle with hearing, it becomes an accessible performance, where there’s no need to split attention between the stage and the person signing.

Natallia Pearmain

Charlie and Stan is at Wilton’s Music Hall from 18^th January until 4^th February 2023. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here

Read our interview with Danielle Bird and Jerone Marsh Reid here.