PRODUCTION OTTAWA IS CURRENTLY ON HIATUS: Click for details.

Montreal Fringe Review - Peter n’ Chris Explore Their Bodies

Production Ottawa reviewer Matthew Champ is hitting the road and checking out the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival. If you’re already out that way, or planning on taking in some Fringe yourself the week before things get underway in Ottawa, should you take the time to see Peter n’ Chris Explore Their Bodies?

Peter n’ Chris Explore Their Bodies is the new play brought to you by the dynamic duo known effectively as Peter n’ Chris. Peter n’ Chris Explore Their Bodies is their fourth show together and it seems that the more they age as a duo the funnier they became. I saw Peter n’ Chris Save the World at Ottawa Fringe in 2011 and thought that it was an hilarious adventure and one of the best shows at Fringe that year, so I was very excited to see what they would have in store this round about. Let’s just say they don’t disappoint.

Chris is unaware that he no longer controls his body, as it has now become controlled by an ominous King known as The Dark One. The Dark One convinces Chris that he has liver cancer, so in response to this problem Peter n’ Chris, donning magical housecoats, journey into Chris’ body to fight The Dark One and restore Chris’ body to perfect health.

The energy is off the charts. There is not a dull moment for a second. And the duo never lets the show go more than a few beats without introducing a new laugh. The play is injected with popular culture ranging from Game of Thrones, to The Hunger Games, to Lord of the Rings, and even a delightful tribute to The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe.

Where the Peter n’ Chris shows really engage the audience is in the details. The two create elaborate minor characters who may only be in the play for mere seconds, yet they have one line or one action that just sticks with you for rest of the play. Not only are all of the characters elaborated and in depth but every movement and motion that their bodies make are either in synch with each other and have a deliberate purpose. Not a single step is made on that stage without the other knowing where the one is and where they are going to end up. It’s a level of professionalism, as simple as it is, that is often forgotten in theatre performances.

Without giving away too many spoilers, the thing that took this show from being a 4 star review to a 5 star review was one specific death scene, many characters die – so I just won’t say which one. The death scene is grandiose and bold and LONG… it reminded me of Hamlet’s death scene, but it was by far the funniest moment I have had in a theatre in a long time. I laughed so hard at how the death played out that I nearly cried.

Five

For more information on show times check out: http://www.montrealfringe.ca/en/show/peter-n-chris-explore-their-bodies

Matthew Champ

About Matthew Champ

Matthew Champ is the lead movie reviewer for Production Ottawa's Should You See It team, making sure that you know whether or not these movies or plays are worth spending your time or money on. He is also on 101.9 Dawg FM every Friday morning at 7:10 AM chatting movies with Dylan Black. You can follow him on Twitter @matthewschamp.