Reece's Yearly Roundup - 2009
Psychoville
The return of Reece and Steve to BBC2 with a comedy drama/thriller was met with great excitement by a lot of people. There hadn't really been much on the television that had their particular brand of twisted laughs since Series 3 of The League of Gentlemen had aired in 2002. Always very good at mixing jaw dropping and face covering inducing jokes alongside material that could make you cry, it's no wonder their new project was eagerly awaited.
It was very strong character wise too. A bitter hook handed clown, a serial killer obsessed man who lived with his mother, a nurse who guarded her sackcloth demonstration doll jealously, a millionaire recluse beanie toy collector and a lovesick pantomime dwarf. And who all receive a beautifully written letter with five words; I Know What You Did. Intriguing! The characters' own personal stories were very well written - Mr Jelly, having lost his hand in an operation is constantly up against his nemesis Mr Jolly, who is more popular than he. Ironically Mr Jolly is also the former doctor who performed Jelly's operation. Maureen and David Sowerbuts, who embark on a rampage of killings after Maureen mistakenly believes David's "I did a bad murder" to be true, when in fact he was dismissed from his Murder and Chips job. It's very sad to learn that David put sleeping pills in his father's food to help him sleep and that he was taken away and given psychological tests. It later emerges that Maureen herself had already been poisoning her husband but she let David take the blame for his father's death. Joy had lost a son, which in turn causes her to become unhealthily attached to her demonstration doll, who she even names - Freddie. She embraces the pain of childbirth and becomes riled with anyone who questions her or her knowledge. Oscar, our beanie collector, lives alone in a mansion with only his beanies for company. He lost his eyes to his eBay rivals the Crabtree sisters, in pursuit of the last beanie he needs for his collection - Snappy the Crocodile. With his home help Tealeaf - he aims to finally beat them and track the toy down. He is later revealed to be suffering from Paradise Syndrome. Finally we come to Robert, who seems to have telekinetic powers and who is in love with the lady playing Snow White - Debbie - in the panto he's appearing in. He fails to see that Debbie has no interest in him and sees him more as a figure of fun. The fact that a fellow dwarf Kerry is in love with him also passes him by. All these character have one thing in common - they received treatment at a psychiatric hospital - Ravenhill, under the eye of cruel Nurse Kenchington. During a rehearsal for the song they are due to peform, David gets his words wrong. Kenchington attacks him repeatedly with a cattle prod until David pushes her back and she hits her head. The group believe her to be dead but in order to protect David, they set the room alight. Nurse Kenchington was not dead however but they prevent her escape by blocking the door. They are all drawn back to Ravenhill by the mysterious blackmailer who is revealed to be Mr Jolly. He is further revealed to be Nurse Kenchington's son, wanting to avenge his mother. But in a further twist we see that she is not dead, and in fact had anonymously written to Jolly informing him of the fire and who was responsible. She holds a gun at the group, demanding a locket that she thinks one of them has. Mr Jolly pleads with his mother, telling her she wasn't meant to be there. He opens his coat to reveal an explosive device strapped to his torso. The device explodes, leaving us to ponder who will survive..... Reece played three characters - the gay and sharp tongued Brian, out to humilate Robert at every opportunity. He had a great voice, and physical mannerisms. Maureen, David's elderly mother who enjoys relaxing at her Bontempi and begins to enjoy murder once she has her supposed first taste of it.. Reece gave Maureen a bad hip so limped for the character. She was a world away from Vinnie, the elderly woman he played in The League of Gentlemen. The last he played was my personal favourite - Mr Jelly. Jelly was a funny yet sad figure. A once great and popular kids entertainer, driven bitter by the loss of his hand at his now professional rival Mr Jolly. Jelly had similar traits to Geoff Tipps, Reece's other famed angry man. But with that unnerving hook and dark wild clown makeup, Jelly could be quite scary! He had some terrific lines, and physically was very comical in his oversized clown shoes.
It did get mixed reviews, some people thought it was vulgar, weird etc. Mainly it was praised though - for its slick 24-esque storytelling and strong memorable characters. Episode 4 was made as a homage to the Hitchcock classic "Rope" to great acclaim.
Reece and Steve were understandably nervous at the debut of Psychoville - but with a Halloween special and a second series already commissioned, and with a British Comedy Award for Best New British Television Comedy under their belt for the show, I think they can rest easy that they did write a great series.
Comedians
In the summer of 2009 Reece was cast in a revival of Trevor Griffths' play Comedians at the Lyric Hammersmith, playing for just one month from October - November. Anyone who has seen him perform live knows just how much he puts into a role, so it was great news for those of us who would be lucky enough to see him in it. He played Phil Murray, a man desperate to break out of his boring day to day life and make it as a comic. Sadly for Phil he isn't actually funny - although his partner and brother Jed played wonderfully by Mark Benton is. Phil is the straight man in the act, although he doesn't see it. Reece portrayed the anger and frustration Phil felt very very well, but also could make you feel sorry for him in a flash. A talent agent Bert Challenor (Keith Allen) is coming down from London to see the acts that Eddie Waters (Matthew Kelly) has been teaching. Phil wants to change the act to more suit Challenor's taste to aid their chances of a contract but Jed refuses. Their act is a spectacular disaster - Phil wants Jed to tell a racist joke but Jed turns the tables on him and makes him do it. Jed later reveals that he sabotaged the act, as he wants to go solo. There is also the story of their father who is ill in hosptial - Phil is finding it hard to go and visit him and gives money for cigarettes to Jed for his father - "tell him I'll try and make it the week after next".
Reece was excellent in this role. He's always good at portraying inner (and outer!) fury, but also cynicsm, rejection and guilt. And to see him partnered alongside Mark Benton again was brilliant.
Victoria Wood's Mid - Life Christmas
Victoria Wood returned with her first tv special in twelve years this Christmas, and Reece starred as a gay vicar, lamenting the lack of a espresso machine as a gift from his partner, instead receiving beanbags...! Very funny turn from Reece in this short role. His vocal inflections and camp tone were great.
A productive year for him I think, and particuarly for Psychoville. Let's all hope for a great 2010 for him.