Frisky and Mannish: Pop Centre Plus
Wry ribbing of pop culture
For those still unfamiliar with Frisky and Mannish, where have you been? It’s time to get up to speed with the flamboyant cabaret sensations. The pair, who have previously had great success at the Fringe with 2009’s School of Pop and 2010’s follow-up, The College Years, like to poke fun at pop culture idols du jour; and their latest show, Pop Centre Plus, seems to be coming from the same sarcastic place.
Under the pretence of providing help to fame-seekers and musical wannabes, Laura Corcoran (Frisky) and Matthew Jones (Mannish) run through a set that mashes up tunes from the cream of the pop crop, from Lady Gaga and Madonna to Missy Elliot and George Michael. Both performers are unexpectedly gifted in the vocal pipe department, Corcoran especially mastering everything from a classical, operatic piss-take of ‘Papa Don’t Preach’, to a cover of Jessie J’s ‘Do it Like a Dude’ in the style of kookie indie fodder, Ellie Goulding. Their onstage personae are larger than life, always glam in the utmost, wonderfully camp and musically flawless.
Crowd interaction is a must for this one, so be prepared to make a fool of yourself for the sake of good fun. Highlights include their mutated, nursery rhyme-inspired version of Girls Aloud’s ‘Sound of the Underground’ and a snigger-inducing rendition of ‘Rude Boy’ by Rihanna in the style of sexy 70s hair and tooth siblings, The Bee Gees (complete with eardrum-lacerating high notes).
Clever, accessible and undeniably hilarious, this is a festival tour de force. Sure to sell quickly if their previous Fringe success and YouTube hits are anything to go by, so jump aboard now to avoid missing the popular pop parody boat.
Udderbelly’s Pasture, 0844 545 8252, until 28 Aug (not 15, 22), 9.30pm, £12–£14 (£10.50–£12.50).