Top Irish company Rough Magic have become regulars at the Traverse over the last few years, generally with contemporary slice of life dramas. The 2006 offering, Improbable Frequency, immediately brings to mind the romantic, burlesque style of another Irish company, The Corn Exchange last year in Dublin by Lamplight.
This is a musical spy spoof set in Dublin during the Second World War, featuring both fictional characters and a number of well-known names, rarely seen in a flattering light.
Tristram Faraday's skills as a crossword solver attract the interest of British spymasters. Soon, this upper class twit played with great wit by Peter Hanly, is posted to Dublin to investigate a plot whereby the weather follows songs played on a radio show hosted by the eccentric Meehawl O'Dromedary (Louis Lovett).
The plot moves through cross and double cross, romance and madness, not to mention the Improbable Frequency of the title. Inevitably, there is a happy ending as Faraday solves his clues, saves the world and then chucks up his career for the love of sweet Philomena (Lisa Lambe).
The enjoyment is enhanced by the appearances of the big names. John Betjeman, complete with Teddy Bear, is unbearably camp for a spy who should ideally have a stiff upper lip. The excellent Darragh Kelly's Flann O'Brien is constantly drunk, mirroring the journalist's true sad history and Erwin Schrödinger, making a guest appearance without his cat but operating a flashing Heath Robinson invention by way of compensation, is completely mad.
Under Artistic Director Lynne Parker, Improbable Frequency is great burlesque fun with consistently excellent timing. This enhances the impact of many hilarious comic lines, usually in verse and often accompanied by a variety of musical styles, generally with some kind of jazz influence, though reaching a peak with an Irish/Nazi version of The Irish Rover.