Showing @ Udderbelly’s Pasture @ 21:30 (not Mondays)
If you’re only going to see one thing at this year’s Fringe, it has got to be this. Now in their third year after sell-out runs for the last two fests, Frisky and Mannish are starting to really make big names for themselves, and deservedly so.
The musical comedy meets cabaret act take on the role of formidable teachers trying to educate their pupils – the audience – into understanding the true meanings and nuances of pop music. From their debut show of “School of Pop” through “The College Years”, we now arrive at “Pop Centre Plus” and the promise that Frisky and Mannish will give us the kick up the arse we need to launch our very own pop careers.
Perfectly timed to pick on the latest big star or fad, the pair draw out the hilarity in pop music in such a way that it becomes so ingrained in your mind. Once you’ve realised the unwitting humour behind seemingly ‘normal’ songs you can’t un-realise it, and suddenly every love song sounds like it was written by a psychotic stalker. Fusions are a big theme for Frisky and Mannish – whether it’s Florence and the Machines meets Peter Andre, or Noel Coward swaps lyrics (but not styles) with Lily Allen – and it soon becomes impossible not to sing along to Kate Bush’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ without Kate Nash’s ‘street’ twang.
But amongst all the comedy and mastery of pulling together such an ingenious show, it’s easy to overlook the incredible talent both performers have. Frisky, a.k.a. Laura Corcoran, has a spine-tinglingly powerful and diverse voice, and she easily receates umpteen different sounds with minimal effort. While Frisky mostly steals the show, don’t forget to keep an eye on Mannish (Matthew Jones) who has some hilariously subtle mannerisms and facial expressions. Impressively nimble on the keyboard, he’s also a talented, camp-as-you-like dancer, and the pair together have an unmistakable chemistry that gets the whole audience buzzing.
See it. You’d be a fool to miss it.
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