Sometimes a show will go from silly to serious, or from silly to even sillier. Cam Venn’s Charles Horse Lays An Egg goes from silly, to weird, to bizarre, to “what the fuck?” to “WHAT. THE. FUCK?” And while this craziness increases, so too does the incredible comedy.
Charles Horse Lays An Egg sees Venn as the titular Horse, an astronaut tasked with repairing an orbiting lunar module. Venn’s physicality triumphs from the outset, floating through the room in mock zero-g while sporting a rather impressive homemade spacesuit. His prop work is incredibly clever while never becoming tiresome, using ingenious and simplistic tools to transport his audience beyond the stratosphere. When Horse discovers the source of the ship's destruction, a race is on to stop a giant alien being from obliterating the Earth.
While the story structure has been used countless times before, Venn’s unique take on the classic tale has truly never been seen before. It’s visceral, vibrant and at times visually confronting, but damn is it gut-bustingly hilarious. The gradual increase in madness is paced perfectly, to the point where the final climax is miles from the show’s beginning, and yet perfectly in the Cam Venn zone of weird. The stage is littered with props and set pieces and yet everything is integral to the show, with the audience on tenterhooks as to when each and every one will come into play. It’s truly remarkable how Venn manages to cram so much into an hour without ever exhausting the mechanisms of delivery. He’s a master of comedic balance yet can push the boundaries beyond anything his crowd may be expecting.
There’s only so much that can be said about the show, as the true magic rests in the visual spectacle of the show itself. It is the only performance of its kind for good reason, and Venn is operating on a totally different level from anyone else around.
Charles Horse Lays An Egg has to be seen, and even then it may not be totally believed. There’s a very good chance that you won’t be able to stomach omelettes for a while after, but it’s worth it.
