Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain
About the show
In this new comedy, it’s 1942, and a horde of Yankee servicemen have just arrived in England where the locals speak a strange dialect, boil all their food, and talk endlessly about the weather. More…
The Americans see the Brits as a strange race. Get ready to judge for yourself in a night of joyous laughter and downright silliness as a crack team of experts attempt to explain the rules of British life. A rib-tickling show for all ages.
"The comedic play is a fascinating bit of history. It reveals the cultural divide between America and Britain and pointed differences in words, coinage, foods, phrases, social graces, sports, class system, and much more...Millard’s superb interplay essentially sets the tone and exuberance of the production which carries through to the second act...I found this to be a vital production, not only in its humorous approach and clever writing and acting but also in the important themes." Full Review
"A baloney-filled, rollicking comedy that has all the inherent hilarity of poking fun at cultural differences...This high-spirited night ended when the men showed us, the troops, how Brits relaxed, through Morris Dancing, a version of the Hokie Pokey with hankies. This fun-filled show was able to capture the humor of the Brits with a nod to the tribulations of war." Full Review
"The show draws its tepid lifeblood from a 1942 booklet that was distributed by the American War Office to GIs serving overseas...The mood is not so much World War II cabaret as it is Saturday night at the nursing home...With John Walton’s keep-em-moving direction and Mr. March’s clown foolery, all moments of subtlety are decidedly missing in action." Full Review
"In the intervening eight decades, the Bodleian publication has undoubtedly been ripe for spoofing, but, let’s face it, less so as time has passed. But perhaps even in 2019 a send-up treatment could provide a keg of laughs. If so, Messrs. March, Millard Sheahan, and Walton are apparently not the ones to do it. They’ve imagined a series of revue-type routines that tickle the elusive funny bone only at scattered moments but are far more often strained." Full Review
for a previous production “The comedy trio perform this comedic presentation with ridiculous witticisms, idiotic imaginations, and a wonderful on-stage dynamic...At times the content seems to be mocking the American soldiers’ naivety or ignorance, but doesn’t come off as offensive as the focus of the show always comes back to how ridiculous the British culture is...A very funny and enjoyable interactive evening, this show is definitely one to see.” Full Review
for a previous production “This glorious crash course on Britishness does more than the advertised tickling of the ribs. It induces a helpless laughter that almost incapacitates the audience...Espoir and the sketch-comedy trio of the Real MacGuffins have their roots in the Edinburgh Fringe. They’re wholly idiotic...The convoluted lecture on British currency is a comic highlight...An energetic, on-your-feet conclusion brings tears to the eyes, and the audience is still laughing on the way out.” Full Review
for a previous production “Briskly paced theatrical adaption...This production could fall under the banner of ‘immersive’ theatre...The narrative...gets slightly ridiculous, albeit from a twenty-first century perspective, and the show technically keeps it clean but subliminally and cleverly gets risqué..Occasionally, the jokes are relevant to the current...On and on the show proceeds, faster and faster, increasingly over-the-top but gloriously hilarious. A witty and whimsical production.” Full Review
for a previous production “Performed with infectious energy by three actors who are so likeable they almost defy you not to enjoy yourself...The humour is broad and embraces slapstick, word play, sit-com and that bedrock of male comedy...But it's also a fascinating snapshot of how weird and insular we used to be before American TV homogenised the western world into a reflection of itself...A good natured warm hearted type of comedy that gently hits its target with affection and respect.” Full Review
for a previous production “The play is heavy-handed on the stereotypes but genuinely funny...The performers are witty and absurdly engaging in portraying their characters' national pride, even at the cost of coming up with ridiculous and carefully expressed insults in order to belittle the others...Walton's direction ties the production together...but it is the bold chemistry among the three actors that makes the show a successful comedy which transcends its stereotypes.” Full Review
See it if you love British humor, particularly by Brits playing Americans poking fun at Brits. There is a tenderness that ekes through that is sweet.
Don't see it if you don't want to learn anything more about behind-the-scenes WW II. Or, if Python-esque humor is not for you. These guys work hard here.
Also This is a tough piece to categorize, and as such, it is worth seeing. ... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy British humor, or any humor!
Don't see it if you're in a bad mood.
See it if You liked Faulty Towers, physical comedy, verbal witticisms and a lot of hopping around.
Don't see it if You loath corny jokes or emphatic audience participation.
Also A pleasant evening with three hard working writers and actors.
See it if you enjoy British-style humour and don't need much of a plot
Don't see it if you don't like audience participation or multi-character actors
See it if you want a pleasant evening exploring what makes the US and UK different and the same Good energetic cast
Don't see it if you have no interest in the subject or are looking for a full blown musical.
See it if If you like theater that aims only to be fun and basically succeeds. an entertaining and interactive show that pokes at nation stereotypes.
Don't see it if you want ambitious theater, don't like British humor or low humor, do not wish the audience to be asked to participate.
See it if Slapstick comedy, with audience involved at points.
Don't see it if If you dislike slap stick comedy.
Also 2 hours, the theater was very hot problem with air conditioning.
See it if you enjoy British themed humor and like plays with audience participation.
Don't see it if you expect to laugh your head off or dislike silly activities that the actors make the audience participate in.
See it if Military humor that relies on audience interaction. Slapstick comedy with driven performance. Expect casual stereotyping
Don't see it if While entertaining to an extent, jokes are largely hit or miss. You learn some historical context but not much.
See it if you're in the mood for a Monty Python-ish play at a wonderful community theater.
Don't see it if you don't like dated material that never quite gets it's footing or isn't refreshed enough for the modern audience.
See it if you enjoy seeing British comic actors playing in American stereotypes for laughs.
Don't see it if You don't know much about British culture or you don't like forced audience participation.
See it if You enjoy British humor. Audience participation is requested . Similar to Benny Hill comedy.
Don't see it if If you are not a fan of British humor. It is slow and indulgent.
See it if If you are like everything British
Don't see it if If you expect anything original
See it if you are interested in all things WWII. James Millard was absolutely the best thing about the show. Should of quit after act 1.
Don't see it if you don't care for manic, slapstick comedy.
See it if You like an entertaining evening with a talented cast of three who play multiple characters.
Don't see it if You do not enjoy audience participation.
See it if you love British humor (e.g Noises Off, Alan Ayckbourn's Norman Conquest trilogy, or John Cleese's Fawlty Towers). Three total pros.
Don't see it if you hate silliness (and puns), dislike slapstick, or want a serious play or musical.
Also On its 2nd night in the U.S., this 2015 production had me in stitches ... Read more Read less
See it if You like British slapstick or know any one who has served their country. The show is clever charming & offers some fun audience interaction
Don't see it if If your not a fan of slapstick humor.. Oddly I’m not. But I did enjoy this performance much more that I ever thought!
Also This show is perfect for the crowed that loved ...The play that went t... Read more Read less
See it if If you love Britain and revel in the many differences between British and American cultures...and you like to laugh.
Don't see it if If you want serious drama or you hate slapstick.
Also This show is based on an actual instruction book for US GIs which you ... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy seeing good-humored fun poked at cultural stereotypes (both British and American).
Don't see it if you think 2 hrs 10 min is too long for what is basically an extended comedy sketch, or you don’t want to be called on to do a Morris dance.
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