The idea of the Gang imitating radio actors is a wonderful idea. In fact, today the Museum of TV and Radio has special workshops where kids get to read radio scripts "on the air."
But I digress.
Radio Bugs has the Our Gang kids "auditioning" as radio comedians in (of all places) a dentists' waiting room (where patients are in excruciating pain! Ouch!). They tell jokes like "What time is it?" "It's 2:30." "I know your tooth's hurting, or you wouldn't be at the dentist!" Silly jokes like this would be amusing except for one problem: the kids just aren't skilled enough to deliver these jokes in a polished fashion. So the whole comedy routine sadly comes off as forced.
Later, they try a different approach: radio drama. They try out their radio-adapted rendition of Hamlet at a mortuary (makes perfect sense, right?). Something unexpected happens though: the morticians burst out laughing! I'll say this much: the writers of this short have a good sense of irony. Unfortunately, the kids' skill at doing drama is no better than their skill at comedy. Once again, their dialogue delivered in a forceful (and contrived) manner. Even Buckwheat, the only remaining veteran from the Hal Roach era, comes off looking stilted.
There is one bright spot in this film: the kids meet an elderly (and hammy) Shakespearean actor who holds Buckwheat's chin as he delivers the classic "poor Yorick, I knew him well..." soliloquy. THAT was funny1
Otherwise, this is a case where a good story idea fell flat due to an incapable young cast.
But I digress.
Radio Bugs has the Our Gang kids "auditioning" as radio comedians in (of all places) a dentists' waiting room (where patients are in excruciating pain! Ouch!). They tell jokes like "What time is it?" "It's 2:30." "I know your tooth's hurting, or you wouldn't be at the dentist!" Silly jokes like this would be amusing except for one problem: the kids just aren't skilled enough to deliver these jokes in a polished fashion. So the whole comedy routine sadly comes off as forced.
Later, they try a different approach: radio drama. They try out their radio-adapted rendition of Hamlet at a mortuary (makes perfect sense, right?). Something unexpected happens though: the morticians burst out laughing! I'll say this much: the writers of this short have a good sense of irony. Unfortunately, the kids' skill at doing drama is no better than their skill at comedy. Once again, their dialogue delivered in a forceful (and contrived) manner. Even Buckwheat, the only remaining veteran from the Hal Roach era, comes off looking stilted.
There is one bright spot in this film: the kids meet an elderly (and hammy) Shakespearean actor who holds Buckwheat's chin as he delivers the classic "poor Yorick, I knew him well..." soliloquy. THAT was funny1
Otherwise, this is a case where a good story idea fell flat due to an incapable young cast.
