Sometimes your historical interpretations are just too much for the establishment, and when you are relentlessly pursued by Ofsted for unmasking a love affair between founding fathers and a Bolshevik talent show at the highest levels of the Soviet Union, what else can you do but put on a show to demonstrate your findings to the world. This is the premise of “Twisted Chronicles,” a historical sketch show conducted by maverick history teachers “Ken” and “Bryan” who take you through anachronistic retellings of famous events in history. Their premises can feel at times delightfully far-fetched and irreverent, but at others drag without much purpose.
In their first sketch, for example, concerning the hatching of Guy Fawkes’ gunpowder plot, it doesn’t feel exactly clear what they are going for, besides throwing in a few anachronisms and a contrived love triangle. When they move on to a retelling of a meeting between some of America’s founding fathers, their portrayal of Franklin and Hamilton is wonderfully flamboyant, and there is a real sense of intrigue to the scene. However, they veer slightly off-track with a foray into the Suffragette movement, and the comedy they attempt doesn’t feel all that clever. Without a doubt, the highlight of the show is a brilliantly silly talent show contest between Stalin and Trotsky, complete with a musical number and interpretive dance routine.
The through line they inject is a nice way to piece everything together, and they sell the idea of two disgruntled, swashbuckling history teachers with an axe to grind with Ofsted well, but the payoff to this storyline they attempt feels slightly forced – it leaves a very entertaining show without a satisfactory conclusion.
The Twisted Chronicles, 17:20, theSpace, until August 24.