Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin

Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin may well have broken a Fringe World record for the number of venues performed. This oft awarded show played at no less than seven venues during the month-long Fringe World festival, and I had the pleasure of seeing it at a sold out matinee performance at Victoria Park’s Balmoral Hotel.

Written and performed by Marcel Cole, assistance came in the form of audiovisual and sound support, operated by his father and girlfriend, while this is a solo show, Marcel also recruited some audience members to don costumes and play additional characters. The story tells a somewhat sanitised version of Chaplin’s life, and while it includes the accusations of communist sympathies, and his marriage to his beloved Oona, it leaves out Oona’s young age, and the ages of his other love interests.

Cole is a captivating performer who works well in the silent genre (although he has a great speaking voice as well). He moves beautifully, in the style perhaps only achieved by a former ballet dancer.

The audience are captivated throughout, in this show that employs a huge variety of style and techniques, including floating globes, historical clips and the pleasure of removing swastikas from Mr. Cole’s very hirsute torso.

Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin is a love letter to a complex man, that is fascinating and very entertaining.

Kimberley Shaw

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