Following sell out success, rave reviews and Most Promising New Musical and Best Lyrics at the Musical Theatre Matters Awards for last year's brilliant Barbershopera, the four part harmony musical returns with a new show that's equally captivating.
A Catalan Matador returns to the quaint and backwards town of Shavingham in Norfolk to discover he's inherited his dead father's barbershop. Trained to slay the enemy, he comes up against local coiffeur Trevor Sorbet who feels he's the rightful replacement and a battle of wills begins. Will the Spanish hero be able to learn the art of beautiful hair and can he win the heart of the striking town crier with ‘lovely lady lumps' or will Sorbet reap the rewards of his evil plotting?
Writers and performers Rob Castell and Tom Sadler have once again developed a script that is tightly conceived and packed full of hilarious pastiches, buffoonery and throwaway references, that focuses on being a daftly amusing hour of genius music routines spliced with pop culture references that the responsive audience delight in (a particular highlight being the pastiche of hair-dresser training in a similar vain to Mr Miyagi's karate training for Daniel-San).
As accomplished and original as the first outing, this second helping is just as delicious. It achieves the balance of portraying the acapella barbershop style whilst mixing it up and inter-cutting with cheesy pop songs, perfectly complementing a stunningly delivered line with a left-field idiotic one.
The four-strong cast are supremely capable singers and comedic performers who delight in their roles, making the slapstick farce and lyrical absurdity appear delectably effortless. Lara Stubbs is a particular highlight while Pete Sorel-Cameron makes his debut with the company in fine voice, his indie pop vocals better than most of the pretty boys fronting all them bands that sound the same.
This is a company with a sharp eye for satire, expertly delivered in a fast-paced, lively show that will leave you wanting more. Go and see it if you have a sense of humour.
Times: 5-31 August (not 12 or 19 Aug), 10.45pm
© Lindsay Corr, August 2009