I went into Coro, a parody show inspired by Coronation Street, with very little background knowledge.
Sure, I’d caught the odd episode as ateenager in the 2000s when everyone’s mum seemed to have it on every night, but I assumed most of the jokes in this stage show would fly straight over my head.
I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard at a theatre show … ever.
The Coronation Street connection is a loose one. Basically, if you’re familiar with how wildly ridiculous soap opera plotlines can become, you’re in on the joke.
The story kicked off with a dramatic train crash that wipes out half the street, a classic soap trope.
From there, the two performers, Nina Hogg and Austin Harrison, played every remaining character using quick costume changes, props and wigs.
Audience members were given prop pieces and character names, and when the duo called out a name, they were meant to throw the costume item at them.
At Coro, audience members were given prop pieces and character names, and when the duo calls out a name, they were meant to throw the costume item at them. Photo / Abby Dalgety
This audience participation just got funnier and funnier as the show went on.
Wigs ended up barely perched on heads, cardigans half-on, and missed cues only added to the chaos and hilarity.
The Coronation Street theme tune became a running gag too: first a mournful funeral version (RIP train crash victims), then a childlike version on a plastic toy, followed by an awful recorder rendition, and finally a clarinet.
Each time it returned, the crowd joined in louder and louder, humming along with growing enthusiasm.
This show had everything: toilet humour, endless innuendo, and my personal favourite moment: when Ken’s prescription got mixed up and a long object became an extremely unfortunate prop.
At one point, people around me could barely breathe from laughing so hard.
If we hadn’t been sitting in the stunning setting of Hamilton Gardens, I would’ve sworn we were 100 strangers at a very rowdy hen’s party.
One standout moment was the rapid transition from a cheating scandal straight into Flo giving birth, with Nina switching between both characters seamlessly and at full intensity.
There were also a few brilliant moments of improvised comedy, and the whole show felt like a perfect example of why we should support emerging local creatives.
I have no doubt these two are heading for bigger and better things, and I can say I was there when they made a Hamilton Arts Festival crowd laugh so hard they nearly wet their pants.
