Upside Downton

Luke Kempner in Upside Downton. Photo by Steve Ullathorne.

Downton Abbey fans are in for a treat this month. Luke Kempner's cheeky comedy Upside Downton has made its way to Toronto direct from the West End for a three-week run at the Panasonic Theatre. First staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it played to critical acclaim and sold-out houses, Upside Downton is a playful, audience pleasing send-up of the beloved British television series.

In this 75-minute show, Kempner embodies nearly all of the characters in the house with impressive accuracy—including Lord Grantham, Countess of Grantham (Cora Crawley), Lady Mary, and servants Mrs. Patmore, Daisy and Thomas—as they prepare for the Dowager Countess's unexpected marriage to a much younger British celebrity. Kempner's comedy twists Julian Fellowes's plot, imagining the storyline in the vein of modern reality shows such as Kitchen Nightmares (he does a mean Gordan Ramsay impression) and Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Loyal Downton followers will love Kempner's attention to detail but some of his subtler references will likely go over the heads of audience members who haven't seen the show.

Catch this entertaining parody just ahead of the Downton Abbey's final season. Upside Downton runs until October 18, 2015 at the Panasonic Theatre. Visit mirvish.com for more information and to buy tickets.