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By
WADE GOSSETT
Most Americans know Rowan
Atkinson as the modern Tati, Mr. Bean, from a
couple of rather middling movies. A few
anglophiles may know him as Mr. Bean and The Black
Adder from the British TV series that made him
famous, and which are far better than his
cinematic forays.
But I suspect few -- including me -- know how
versatile Atkinson's comedy can be and how
inspired a writer of witty sketches he can be.
Well, here's your chance, the funniest thing I've
watched all year.
The A&E compilation of sketches was taped in 1991
at Boston University, and features sketches as
well as monologues from Atkinson's one-man shows
that were performed in 1981 and 1986.
The range is vast, and for those of us who think
that Atkinson genius is his elastic face and body
will be surprised how sharp his tongue can be.
Atkinson is mostly alone on stage, with occasional
appearances by straight man Angus Deayton, who is
the narrator or plays Atkinson's foil. Most of the
sketches are original, although a few are from the
Mr. Bean TV series.
The best known skit, and one that relies on
Atkinson's famous skill for slapstick, is the "It
Started With a Sneeze," where he is a church
patron who can't seem to just stay still while the
church service is going on. My favorite
performance is the ironic monologues of Atkinson
as Satan. Others include A Warm Welcome, Fatal
Beatings, And Now, From Nazareth, the Amazing,
Invisible Man, The Good Loser, With Friends Like
These, Pink Tights and Plenty of Props, No One
Called Jones, A Final Bash, Elementary Dating,
Guys After the Game and Tom, Dick, and Harry (the
last three are included as an extra special
feature; other specials are an Atkinson biography
and filmography.
Several skits target religious pretensions and I
sure home nobody's offended due to excessive
piety. |
