By: A Due Bus Ltd.
Britain’s favourite “French” comedian, Marcel Lucont, is horrified with the English weather and most of the inhabitants of the UK in general too. It is a typical rainy, cold, summer’s evening and The McElderry venue at The Warren is an open air theatre, “Just like The Globe” Lucont remarks. “Now I know why people died young in Shakespeare’s times.” It’s a funny start to the show and sets the tone for the night as the performer, both hilarious aloof and fabulously berating of everyone and everything, grapples with what he sees as totally unacceptable conditions and the crowd slowly soaks to the skin.
With the frenchman is a substitute three piece jazz band. He had planned to bring over a magnificent seventeen piece orchestra but was thwarted due to a bizarre sexual accident that sadly killed the whole group. It is clear Lucont is not happy with the English replacements as he continually rebukes them for doing a bad job.
Lucont is the alter ego of Buckinghamshire lad, Alexis Dubus, who is celebrating ten years of this wonderfully louche misanthrop, in this entertaining hour. Never breaking character Dubus’ performance is a riotous masterclass of French stereotypes; he is arrogant, damning and presents a laissez-faire attitude.
Highlights include the “Jazz Chat”, where Lucont talks to members of the audience and comments on their lives and poor life choices. Tonight he chats to an audience member who has a coat on but has decided not to put his hood up in the rain. It’s a very funny bit of improv which has the crowd in stitches.
Lucont has a lot to say about how the government has handled the pandemic, both in prose and song, which has the soggy throng cheering along.
The song 15 Love, about Lucont’s early love life also has the auditorium rocking with laughter and a one stage the performer says, “I have never had to raise my voice to be heard over water!” which gets a great whoop of recognition for all those sat in the downpour.
The band are impeccable musicians, they elevate the act from a very good one to absolutely fabulous one; despite Lucont’s protestations, the show would not be as good without them.
Finishing with a song about doing nothing in lockdown, the crowd cheer out for more, despite the conditions.
Dubus has created a wonderful grotesque character who the audience laughs heartily at, even though he insults us at every turn. The chides are so inventive and funny you cannot help but giggle. Even in torrential rain the night proves to have that winning formula. This is a Brighton Fringe must see.
Reviewed on 18th June
The Reviews Hub Score
Suave Silliness
