Police Cops Review
St Mary’s Hall Studio Theatre, Saturday 29 October, 7.30pm
by Jacob Hando
If you’re a person who enjoys the action and police flicks of the 1970s and 1980s then The Pretend Men’s show Police Cops is definitely for you. If you’re a person who wants to laugh almost continuously for an hour then Police Cops is also definitely for you. Pure entertainment doesn’t come more likeable than this as a trio of actors bounce around the stage with endless enthusiasm and energy, telling the story of Jimmy Johnson (Zachary Hunt) who swears to his dying brother he will become the “best damn police cop ever” in 1970s America. In order to find a Mexican criminal, Jimmy has to team up with retired old cop Harrison (Tom Turner). So begins a frantic hour parodying every buddy cop cliché in the book.
The trio of actors (Nathan Parkinson rounds out the three, multi-roling everything from a Mexican cat to arrogant police officer Malloy) are equally hysterical - they all nail their roles so perfectly it is impossible to say who the scene stealer is. This show is physical comedy at its peak: montages, dances, running on the spot... What the three of them can do with movement and facial expressions is an amazing feat of commitment. Not a minute goes by without at least a few jokes which feel hilariously imrovised and, whilst not all of them land, the majority do - evident from the belly aching laughter from the audience.
The story is also quite engaging despite its self-awareness and often surreal moments (Parkinson’s Mexican kitty is a two minute scene of absurdly funny comedy) and the bare stage and rapid costume change are incredibly effective. The show is so fast paced the actors (often shirtless) are bathed in sweat within the first quarter.
‘Police Cops’ is the definition of entertainment; an hour will zip past in what feels like ten minutes, thanks to the sharp wit and constant one liners coming from the three exceptionally gifted actors.