An Inside Look: Funny Business at The English Theatre of Hamburg
This week, I caught a performance of Funny Business at The English Theatre of Hamburg. This theatre is unique for Germany in that they perform a wide variety of plays in their original English versions. Funny Business is a comedic farce written by Derek Benfield and directed by Robert Rumpf.
At a Glance
🗺️ Location: Hamburg, Germany
📍 Venue: The English Theatre of Hamburg➝
📅 Dates: 11/14/2019–2/1/2020
🎭 Type of Show: Play
🌐 Language: English
⏰ Runtime: 2 hrs 10 min
About Funny Business
Funny Business is a story about Ferris, who finds himself having to take over his sister’s hotel while she is on holiday. But not long after getting settled into his new post, he finds out that an anonymous newspaper critic will soon arrive to evaluate the hotel. Poor Ferris just can’t seem to figure out which guest is the critic. And this in turn creates some crazy moments of frustration and confusion for everyone involved.
The role of Ferris is played Stephen Chance, whose high energy and good intentions keep you on your toes. The various hotel guests were played by Debbie Radcliffe, Jan Hirst, Gil Sutherland, and Blake J. Askew. And a special mention for David Habbin, who wonderfully plays Ferris’s unexpected sidekick while somehow keeping this highly animated show a bit more grounded.
As Ferris attempts to please who he assumes to be the hotel critic, we get tangled into more and more misunderstandings, which brings the play to crazy levels of chaos. The once timid audience began to roll with laughter after settling into the second act.
The set design by Mathias Wardeck was a nice surprise as well, especially considering the fact that the play constantly bounces from the lobby to different hotel rooms. The attention to detail in the prop technicalities was also seamlessly done. This is the type of show that one missed prop placement could really complicate the storyline!
About the English Theatre of Hamburg
The English Theatre of Hamburg was founded in 1976 by Robert Rumpf and Clifford Dean, two Americans who had worked in theatre in the United States before moving to Germany in the 1970s. The theatre company produces both American and British plays, ranging from classic works to newer productions.
If you’re looking to either enjoy or improve your English with English theatre while you’re in Hamburg, the English Theatre of Hamburg is a great option. They cater to an international audience, which is filled with both native and non-native English speakers, so you’ll be right at home either way.
What to Know Before You Go
If you’re a student or seeing a play for educational purposes, The English Theatre of Hamburg offers study guides➝ to accompany each of their shows.
The English Theatre of Hamburg hosts the occasional “Cream Tea” on select Sunday shows, where you can enjoy tea, scones, jam, and clotted cream during intermission.
* The featured image is by Stefan Kock.
* A special thanks to The English Theatre of Hamburg for inviting us to the show!
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Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip and the author of The Thespian’s Bucket List. She is also the creator of The Cast Album List. Her background includes a BA in Theatre, a TESOL Drama certificate, and professional experience in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
