Low Down

The Eurovision Barbershop Contest approaches; our manly quartet fancy their chances - until their tenor does a runner. He must be replaced ... but with a warbling woman?! 'Barbershopera' is a four-part harmony musical - expect laughs, tears and enormous vibratos.

Review

A musical in Barbershop style is nothing if not unusual, and without perfect pitch and dazzling harmonies it would be easy to send the audience cringing from the theatre.

However, Toni and the Guys thankfully have the tuning and vocal talent, not to mention a hearty dose of comic timing and expert rhyming to ensure this Barbershopera is an aural treat.

A suitably  ridiculous and overblown plot, complete with silent movie-esque  chases across the stage of the tiny Pleasance Beside, make this show a laugh-a-minute farce. Not to mention the incredible caricature of Fabiano a la Carbonara - the leader of the current world champion Swiss barbershop team,'The Taxhavens', whose Machiavellian ways drive the story into a spiral of silliness.

The lyrics and music composed by Rob Castell and Tom Green are clever and pithy, and the singing talents of the quartet mean that the show is filled with music from start to finish without a moments instrumental accompaniment .

This show will have you laughing throughout and is original and fun - to be reccomended.

Reviewed by AB 13/06/08

Website :

http://www.pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh/