Festival review: Kevin Tomlinson: Crazy Little Thing Called Love; Just the Tonic At the Caves (Venue 88)
The loose format sees Tomlinson appear on stage accompanied by a box of props, a rail of costumes, a few wigs and a mask or two. The masks, it must be said, can be unnerving on first sight, but putting one on, and looking at himself in the mirror for a few seconds, helps improv master Tomlinson get into character.
Our show begins with Tomlinson joined by wickedly talented wife Abi Hood for a sketch about a blind date, with details and conversational gambits courtesy of those often mischievous song lines. The result is a scene that’s funny, true and not a little moving.
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Hide AdProving an existing relationship isn’t necessary to hold your own in a Tomlinson sketch is audience member Gill. Having admitted to problems finding a nice chap, she’s invited on stage to sample some flirting techniques. Tossing awful lines at her is Frenchman “François”, complete with a nose to make Toulouse-Lautrec weep. The smart and feisty Gill winds up breaking poor Francois’s heart. C’est la vie.
The final sequence, and absolute highlight, has a game young couple reveal how they met via a horn, a bell, a Little Mermaid doll and a second-rate Action Man knock-off. Their willingness to go all the way with the sketch has the audience whooping with laughter. I don’t know how much we learnt about love in this heartwarming hour, but everyone left with massive smiles on their faces.
Rating: ****
Until 26 August. 16 August 3:20pm.