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Three Men and a Bourb0n is overly ambitious
THREE’S A CROWD
Who's top of the male comedy trinity
It's all in the name, they say. They are heartily wrong. The three shows in the Fringe whose titles begin with Three Men. . . couldn‘t possibly have less in common if they tried. One of them isn‘t even a triple act. Three Men and a Bourbon (Pleasance Dome. until 24 Aug, 6.05pm/6.25pm CO ) is a highly surreal sketch show. framed by the story of a ‘biscuit evening‘. hosted by the demented Mackenzie and his minion Mark. and spied upon by a manic depressive detective. Jumping in and out of further sub-sketches and interacting with the audience at unexpected moments, the show is inventive but too ambitious for the performers, who frequently get lost in the maze of their own convoluted material.
From the ridiculous to the elderly, Three Men in a Bowtie (Apex City Hotel, until 16 Aug. 9.45pm 0. ) is an old-fashioned revue by an old (fashioned) trio. Fronted by radio producer Chris Eldon Lee. and ably assisted by a talented pianist and Shropshire’s only farmer-comedian. the show brings in a modest harvest of good-natured laughs. But it is way overlong and for each hoary witticism there is a toe- curling pun or a “Where‘s me washboard?‘ sight gag that was passe in 1418. For music hall tetishists only.
The best of the male triumvirates. So good, in fact, that there are four of them, is Three Men and a Giant (C02. until 24 Aug. 9.10pm 0... ). The giant in question is Greg Davies, all 6'8“ of him. and the three mortals are Rhod Gilbert (deadpan Welsh stoic). Steve Hall (radar-eared ectomorph) and Ed Petrie (curtain-wearing drunkard). They are a joy to behold, each one with a distinctive style. yet all possessed of the same amiable dementia. This is stand-up as it should be: snappy and smart. occasionally nasty. and always funny. (Sam Healy)
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30 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE ‘1 ' :
ANDY .._ ZALTZMAN . Surreal take on the
New World Order
'” GINA YASHERE London via Lagos gets a reactlon 00.
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STAND UP: THE . . I .
MUSICAL
A boy band you can KAREN LOFTUS
love? 0000 Material pales in the
Spotlight 00
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