Librarians’ Joke (London & tour)

The Dewey Decimal System might be thought of as the highlight of any librarian’s life, but beneath the surface of cardigans, flat shoes and neatly tied-back hair are hidden passions and great wits, according to the talented trio who make up little wonder theatre company.

The Librarians’ Joke, which began at the ROAR Festival and was developed with Arts Council England at Croydon Clock Tower last summer, is devised and performed by Suzy Harvey, Sara Kewly and Katherine Maxwell-Cook. The show revels in the stereotypical image of libraries and librarians, then delights in surprising the audience by exploding (some of) those prejudices.

The set up is very much like many television sketch shows, played with deadpan humour and as much realism as possible; audience members are even given a book which is date-stamped as they come in. Complete with ‘I love Dewey’ T-shirts and tea cups, the librarians’ idea of fun is racing each other to find books by calling out the title and locating where, in the system from 000.01 to 999.99, the book should be.

However, we are told very gravely that both love and death also happen in this library. There is the serious business of romance going on between librarian Rose and assistant Pete, who, we are told, is very clumsy and accident prone. Touchingly, the closest they get to dating is leaving messages for each other in books, before Pete (who we never meet) suddenly dies.

Over the course of 70 minutes of inventive story-telling using music (composed and performed by Malcolm Bruce) and projections that explain everything from what the Dewey Decimal System is and where to find what you need (including comfy sofas) in the library, to how Rose’s affection for Pete grew, and how Rose felt when Pete died, we are told a short but sweet tale of what really goes on between the shelves of the cosy library.

Humorous songs help the narrative along, including one asking why Pete died – a self-deprecating gag highlighting the fact that the death in the story is never explained, we just have to accept that it happened. The story is very simple, but truthful and effective, and just as enjoyable as a good book.

– Caroline Ansdell (reviewed at the Pleasance Theatre)