Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Of all the musical genres to be bastardised into musical comedy, barbershop is a definite rarity, 

Tom Whiston has a solid talent for harmonies, so why shouldn’t he put it to good use in an hour that has plenty of fun with the clichés of the form. Let’s just say there are a LOT of straw boaters involved in this production.

The Dandy Daniels treats barbershop as if it’s cool and relevant, the   rivalries between bands the stuff of  major gossip and intrigue. Whiston’s alter ego, Jimminy D McSeventh was ousted from the titular quartet for stage-diving, so where will he turn now?

The answer is the stalls, as he recruits three punters to form a new group in what turns out to be quite a demanding piece of audience participation. They are on stage for most of the hour, though the aim is never to humiliate – and those who stepped up to the plate on opening night were remarkably game.

Some insubstantial plotting has this new outfit face off against the original Dandy Daniels, though the absence of story is not an issue. Likewise the blurb’s promise that this is ’a tale of friendships lost, and learning to live with a present that isn’t as rosy as the past’ definitely over-eggs the dramatic impetus.

Instead, there’s a strong sense of pantomime about proceedings, as Whiston and his supporting cast shift from one set piece to another, tossing out knowingly corny gags and indulging in silly running jokes. You don’t want to know how ‘Crazy Legs’ got his nickname.

Whiston’s a strong performer with a buoyant physicality to match his decent singing voice. He uses the entire stage and more, and is generous in jollying along the audience participants in their scenes, engineering a night of great fun even if you don’t know your Hello! Ma Baby from your Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby.

Review date: 17 Aug 2024
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Bedlam Theatre