A fine collection of clowns, stand-ups and musicians with chaotic hosting.
The Lovely Boys are a pair of mildly disturbing clowns who are the perfect ringmasters for an early evening variety show.
Performing as a duo, these northerners often have the energy of children’s telly presenters gone slightly wrong. This past year they have performed as much solo as together, with Mikey working on material inspired by the water cycle, and Joe Kent-Walters winning the BBC New Comedy Awards with his demonic club host, Frankie Monroe.
It’s – ahem – lovely to see them back on stage together, as they have wonderful charisma, though here they seem to be playing “themselves” a bit more than usual. These things are relative: their hosting arc is largely about Mikey seeking sexual love with two dolphins (played by Rosalie Minnitt and Freddie Haye, their feet each in one tight leg).
Of the other acts, your correspondent particularly enjoyed Sue the Cleaner (Liam Harney), whose act is wonderfully deadpan and deals brilliantly with a slightly undercooked audience with sarcastic charm. By the end, as Sue’s jingle loops into infinity, the daft money-saving tips have been taken wholly to heart.
Also very accomplished was Derek Mitchell, who had performed in this same tent the night before at Cabaret Impedimenta. Here, Mitchell was able to reach his punchlines and tell his riotous, unlikely but true anecdotes without someone pretending to be his grandma smearing hand cream all over his face.
Last up is Frankie Monroe, aka Kent-Walters with a freakish stoop and scary staring eyes. Monroe walks the funny / disturbing tightrope, but anyone who has been to a northern social club will know that this monster is based on truth. One is never quite sure where he’s going to go next, either with his material or within the venue, and it’s easy to imagine him introducing the karaoke, the play your cards right, or the meat raffle, with an energy that both delights and kind of kills the room.
By the end, it is a pleasure to see The Lovely Boys back together as “themselves”, alongside their disturbing mermaid/dolphin lovers and costume malfunctions aplenty.
These young comics are going places, but here’s hoping they always find time for their magical, frightening, be-jumpered double act. Else, the BBC should sign them up as an adult Dick ‘n’ Dom with a Saturday teatime show – with the audience members signing the appropriate waiver forms.
Reviewed on 26th May