BWW Reviews: THE PERILS OF LOVE AND GRAVITY , New Wimbledon Theatre Studio, September 26 2011

There are some who, when faced with smartarsery, arrange their faces into those as stern as the ones hewn into the rock of Mount Rushmore, all the better to sniffily float above such showiness - if you're of that persuasion, don't go to see The Perils of Love and Gravity (at New Wimbledon Theatre Studio until October 1). For the rest of us, this part-fairytale, part-sketch show is great fun, replete as it is with hammy acting, pratfalls, wise (and not so wise) cracks and a plot that just about survives a pummelling over the hour its telling.

Misha (Charlie Bate) sits Rapunzelesqely alone in her upside-down house, until, on daring to venture outside, she instantly meets suitors (Feliz Trench) with whom she instantly falls in love and, almost as instantly, loses in a range of accidents of the kind that befall those unfortunate enough to sit on Spinal Tap's drumstool. All the while, The Engineer (Rhys Lawson) narrates Misha's calamitous love life with ever-increasing lustfulness and her servant (Phil Mann) tends, rather too enthusistically, to her every need. The performances of the young cast are somewhat uneven, but there's some sparkling setpieces and witty wordplay (along with the odd dud, as the show veers dangerously close to panto).

There's plenty of pace throughout the sixty minutes and enough bellylaughs, giggles and wryly amusing observations for anyone who has bought into the smartarsery. If you enjoyed the sillier moments of The Inbetweeners - and plenty did - you'll like this fairytale for grown-ups who haven't grown-up too much.