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Review: Rannel - “Flhip Flhop: Everything Happens on the Break”

At Rich Mix

Rannel Theatre Company and makin projects, in association with Swindon Dance and Redbridge Drama Centre

Words: David Barros

Photos: Mark Sharratt

Rannel: Flhip Flhop Two friends, decorating a mate's appartment. And a whole lot of time to waste with hip hop-related distractions.

I had originally seen Flhip Flhop as part of Sadler's Wells half term show deals, but it was so good the first time round I made the effort to see it again. Back then the audience mostly consisted of school children on an outing, with a shortened version of the performance. At Rich Mix the audience were significantly older, but shows Rannel's appeal to such a wide range of people. They are one of hip hop theatre's finest.

Set in their mate Dave's bachelor pad, close friends and hip hop fanatics Joey D and Matt are decorating while Dave is on holiday. Unfortunately for them they suffer from very short attention spans, distracting them from getting the job finished.

Sub-titled Everything Happens on the Break, all the action takes place during these spontaneous breaks - from their work. From the start you can tell they won't get the job done. But the distractions bring gags, and the gags keep coming, one after the other, with barely enough time to catch your breath before the next punchline or choreographed slapstick moment.

It was as though the couple had brought together their best talents to present them through the play. Matt scratches through two records, while Joey plays the harmonica. Both can act, and both know how to tickle the audience's funny bone.

They do it by disconnecting from reality over the smallest thing. An argument ends up with them ignoring each other, then one of them winding the other up by nudging him, until the whole thing turns into a threading routine! Before you know it their argument is over and you're back in the room again.

Rannel manage to cover nearly every element under the hip hop spectrum, apart from graffiti. The first scene features beatboxing. There's dancing. There's live scratching and emceeing. Even a surprise appearance of a Talk Box (how it was hidden was very clever).

Plus this intricate and very cleverly choreographed “sleeve face” routine:

From start to finish, Flhip Flhop provided a never ending barrage of jokes that will make even those new to hip hop culture laugh until they weep.

I've been to hip hop theatre shows before. Jonzi D's Hip Hop Surgery is one of the best examples of what can be done with the convention. What Rannel have done is taken the sort of five minute extracts at Hip Hop Surgery and made it in to a full-length production and give it mainstream appeal too, without sacrificing the integrity of true hip hop.

On a final note, “rannel” is a Wiltshire slang word for “hungry” which is where the guys got it from. If you see the show, then like us, Flhip Flhop will leave you wanting seconds.

Rannel Spring Tour 2010 dates

February:

Thursday 4 - Didcot, Cornerstone

Friday 5 - Ipswich, New Wolsey Theatre

Saturday 6 - Bedford, University of Bedfordshire Theatre

Wednesday 24 - Lancaster, The Dukes

Thursday 25 - Paisley, Arts Centre

Friday 26 - Cockermouth, The Kirkgate Centre

Saturday 27 - Settle, Victoria Hall