Tom Thum: Beating the Habit
Beatboxing Aussie seems to have swallowed bagpipes, decks and a didgeridoo
Part of Australian acrobat-dance-variety show the Tom Tom Club, 27-year-old beatboxer Tom Thum now brings his solo show to the Fringe. With the ability to conjure up a large variety of unusual sounds – bagpipes and a didgeridoo all show up — the Aussie no doubt has a unique talent. Along with a charismatic personality and the ability to use this to comedic effect, his vocal capacity will appeal to fans of hip hop and electronic music, but also works well in a family show.
The show includes a dubstep and drum & bass versus hip hop battle between Thum’s multiple ‘characters’, a demonstration of how he creates his sounds and an entertaining video ‘Beating the Habit’ – getting laughs by displaying the toll his beatboxing addiction takes on his friends and family at home. However, the amount of time Thum has on stage could possibly be utilised slightly better, as the performance works better when he displays his range of sounds, rather than giving the audience a lesson in how to beatbox.
Tom Thum – Beating the Habit, Underbelly, Bristo Square, until Aug 27 (not 13, 14, 20), 6.45pm, £12–14 (£11–13).