Back by popular demand for 2017, our Brighton Bites series offer short, witty and slightly tongue-in-cheek insights into shows performing at England’s largest arts festival. Hopefully, they will whet your appetite to try something new at this year’s Brighton Fringe.
Here, Matthew Floyd Jones tells us about his show, Richard Carpenter is Close to You, which he’ll be performing at The Warren.
How would you describe your show in one sentence?
In this intensely dramatic parody, the piano player from 70s pop duo The Carpenters is hilariously stuck in a never-ending concert where he must face up to some deeply uncomfortable truths before he can finally break through to the other side.
Why Brighton Fringe for this show?
Brighton is beautiful, Brighton is bonkers, Brighton is the best! I have always had a great gig here – it’s like Brightonians don’t know how to be anything less than 100% up for it, and the atmosphere is always electric. There was no question that I wanted to premiere my show here.
How have you been preparing for Brighton Fringe?
Well, I’ve been working on this show ever since I had the idea last August at the Edinburgh Fringe, so I guess we could say 9 WHOLE MONTHS… which makes poetic sense because it is sort of my baby. A baby made of songs and sketches and a powerful narrative, weighing 60 mins and with a lovely full head of ginger hair!
What do you think sets your show apart from all the other festival offerings?
I don’t know if anyone else is doing a theatrey musicy tragicomedy concerty standupy giggy biopicy parody? Am I the first?! Seriously, though, there have been a number of Karen Carpenter or The Carpenters tribute shows, but I believe I’m the first person to create a show specifically about Richard. And being a guy who plays piano in a double act with a wonderful female singer myself, it’s definitely the part I was born to play!
What’s the show that you don’t want to miss at this year’s Brighton Fringe (apart from your own)?
Nick Hall’s comedy character show about an assassinated prime minister is going to be hilarious and poignant, I’m sure of it.
What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever been given for performing at a Fringe Festival?
Make sure the lowest layer of your costume is machine washable, and buy at least three of them to use on rotation. Otherwise, you will be no one’s friend.
If your show was a flavour of ice cream being sold on Brighton Pier, what would it be?
Bittersweet butterscotch
Richard Carpenter Is Close to You runs at Brighton Fringe 5-6, 28-29 May 2017
For more information visit www.brightonfringe.org or www.matthewfloydjones.co.uk
The Reviews Hub is proud to sponsor the Literature & Spoken Work section of Brighton Fringe 2017 as well as being an official Reviews Partner, offering in-depth coverage of the festival.
