It’s really quite joyful when somebody loves what they do so much it spills over away from their profession and into the rest of their lives. Such is how it seems to be with Luke Connell, professor of medieval French literature and the most medieval of us all – we are told – even if we are all a bit medieval too.
It’s an unusual premise to start with, but Connell’s tongue-in-cheek parallels between the medieval and the modern hold a little bit of water along with their multiple piques of interest. With the aid of every teacher’s favourite modern pal, PowerPoint slides, he educates with enthusiasm and a contagious smile. It’s a taster hour packed with medieval highlights, from medicine to mythical creatures brought to you with the aid of an authentically named dog. Connell succeeds in making the medieval accessible, from its history to its science, tiers of angels and bawdy monks included.
Bloody Marvellous isn’t laugh-out-loud hilarious by any means, but it succeeds in communicating just why Luke Connell disregarded other childhood ambitions in favour of pursuing his love affair with the period and sharing it with others. Fascinating medical ingredients read like a Grimm Fairy Tale contents page, and the wonder of suspended disbelief from the people who conjured griffins and formicaleons as possibilities in the world give hints at what it was like to believe in the impossible. Who wouldn’t want to spend an hour in such a world?
Luke Connell: Bloody Marvellous
Cinema Room at Laughing Horse @ Brass Monkey, 14.450, until 24 August (except 4, 11 and 18)
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/luke-connell-bloody-marvellous
