Change »
Edinburgh Fringe 2000 (60)
Edinburgh Fringe 2001 (316)
Edinburgh Fringe 2002 (354)
Edinburgh Fringe 2003 (376)Edinburgh Fringe 2004 (422)
Edinburgh Fringe 2005 (415)
Edinburgh Fringe 2006 (548)
Edinburgh Fringe 2007 (668)
Edinburgh Fringe 2008 (734)
Edinburgh Fringe 2009 (774)
Edinburgh Fringe 2010 (929)
Edinburgh Fringe 2011 (966)
Misc live shows (181)
Montreal 2004 (6)
Montreal 2006 (10)
Montreal 2007 (15)
Montreal 2008 (17)
Montreal 2009 (17)
Theatre (24)
Tour (184)
West End run (14)
See Less »
Take This and Shove It
Tartan Ribbon Benefit
Tempus Fudge-it
That Reminds Me
The All-Star Charity Show
The Arts Show
The Best Of Irish Comedy
The Best Of Scottish Comedy
The Best Of So You Think You're Funny?
The Big Howard and Little Howard Show
The Boon Show Live
The Bootleg Clare Summerskill
The Business Presents The Concert
The Butleress
The Centre
The Clowned Of Music
The Comedy Zone
The Consultants: Boss
The Dinks
The Dusty Limits Hour
The Establishment
The Great Big Comedy Picnic
The Greg Proops Chat Show
The Jesus Principle
The Late Show
The Lion and Albert
The Lost Laugh
The Midnight Show
The Musical
The Seven Ages Of Bob
The Stand
The Story Of Funk
The Tensile Strength Of Cats
The Upsettables
The Why Front: Live and Lovely
The Wicker Woman
The Wonderhorse Guide to Happiness
Think No Evil Of Us: My Life With Kenneth Williams
Three Guys Naked From The Waist Down
Three Men And A Bourbon
Three Men And A Giant
Three Men In A Bowtie
Tina C In Lifestyle Guru
Tina Kim: Single and Available
Tittle Tattle
Tommy Tiernan: Tell Me A Story
Tony Hawks: One Hit Wonderland
Topping and Butch: Afternoon Tease
Topping and Butch: Take It Up The Octave
The Trap
Truth and Bullshit
Tut, Tut, Miss Simpson
Twelve Angry Men
Twenty-One Dog Years: Doing Time At Amazon.com
|
Topping and Butch: Take It Up The Octave
Outrageous musical satire puts the 'Gasp' back into the Fringe. Naughty insights and cheeky pop parodies meet up-to-the-minute news stories. As subtle as American diplomacy, this show takes some beating!
Original Review:
An indisputable contender for campest show on the Fringe, Take It Up The Octave features musclebound singer Andrew 'Butch' Simmons and his rather less toned keyboard-playing sidekick Michael Topping. Dressed arrestingly in studded-leather bondage gear, the two perform a partly-topical and gloriously gay mini-musical, parodying the cheesiest songs in pop and cabaret. There are a few gems, including Never Mind, a gay news bulletin trivialising such significant events as Britney losing her cherry to Justin Timberlake. And after innocently asking several straight women in the audience if they have gay male friends, the duo sing Fag Hag in their honour, to the tune of Downtown (while desperately trying to drown out the original backing vocals on the karaoke track). There are an equal number of lulls - a few of the original songs (including Nine To Five and On Mother Kelly's Doorstep) seem unknown to the younger members of the audience, while lyrically weak parodies include the Steps take-off Worst Shag of my Life. However, the pair are confident and professional enough to retain the audience's goodwill throughout, while their singing is entertaining even when unamusing. Few of the song lyrics put an original spin on either news stories or life within the gay scene, but for a light-hearted, feelgood evening full of innuendo, mischief and smut, you could do worse than Take It Up The Octave. |
Superb - I laughed myself hoarse - as did the whole crowd who was in that night. Those who enjoy witty cabaret in the Flanders and Swann, Kit and the Widow, Fascinating Aida manner will love this. Jon, August 2003 |
These guys are hysterical, refreshing and prove satire's far from dead. David, August 2003 |
I can confidently say that topical, rib cracking comdic satire is alive and well. An unparralled tour de force, that left me hoarse, it harkens back to the days of comedic geniuses like Morcambe and Wise and the Two Ronnies. Jide Salami, August 2003 |
I would rather watch the same episode of the Sooty Show 50 times over. Sorry is the word. Those lucky enough to get tickets please remember that winter is coming soon and the ticket would make great kindling to start a fire Hayden Parker, August 2003 |