Tape Face
I first saw The Boy With Tape On His Face (as he was then*) in Edinburgh a few years ago and witnessed him absolutely storm a Late N Live at the Gilded Balloon in front of scores of drunkards in the early hours. I suspected then he'd move on to bigger and better things. Worldwide exposure via America's Got Talent followed and with it, big theatrical runs including this one in the West End.
This is ostensibly a greatest hits show. It's loosely structured with the conceit that Tape Face is dreaming during a backstage snooze prior to the show itself. It adds an additional layer to proceedings that isn't really needed, although the set piece that opens the second half utilises the idea to good effect, as spinning plates represent the anxieties inside the performer's mind pre-show. For the most part, you get a lot of audience interaction business, involving various props and clothing. It's enjoyable to guess where he's going with the set up before the penny eventually drops, normally with the introduction of a sound cue. One Jackson Five themed section of the show is an instant classic.
These get conceptually more ambitious as the show goes on and it's undoubtedly fun to watch say, a woman attempt to hit a ping pong ball into a makeshift golf hole using a hairdryer as a tee. It's equally delightful to see Tape Face admonish one of the participants with his eyes for failing to follow his instructions, but the tone is invariably celebratory and never cruel. Although there are a couple of occasions where what he asks of his audience members is borderline suspect. Certainly requesting that strangers kiss each other seems a touch too far, but not indicative of the performance as a whole.
In the second half, the jokes becomes a bit more samey with recurring takes on popular songs. The show also has the same ending as his previous West End show, a riff on 99 Red Balloons. I'd like to see more new material next time, but I can happily recommend this version of the show to anyone not already familiar with Tape Face's work.
* The shortening to Tape Face seems like a commercial decision but it's probably the right one. Besides, to quote The Simpsons, "The Boy With Tape On His Face" will never fit on a marquee.
This is ostensibly a greatest hits show. It's loosely structured with the conceit that Tape Face is dreaming during a backstage snooze prior to the show itself. It adds an additional layer to proceedings that isn't really needed, although the set piece that opens the second half utilises the idea to good effect, as spinning plates represent the anxieties inside the performer's mind pre-show. For the most part, you get a lot of audience interaction business, involving various props and clothing. It's enjoyable to guess where he's going with the set up before the penny eventually drops, normally with the introduction of a sound cue. One Jackson Five themed section of the show is an instant classic.
These get conceptually more ambitious as the show goes on and it's undoubtedly fun to watch say, a woman attempt to hit a ping pong ball into a makeshift golf hole using a hairdryer as a tee. It's equally delightful to see Tape Face admonish one of the participants with his eyes for failing to follow his instructions, but the tone is invariably celebratory and never cruel. Although there are a couple of occasions where what he asks of his audience members is borderline suspect. Certainly requesting that strangers kiss each other seems a touch too far, but not indicative of the performance as a whole.
In the second half, the jokes becomes a bit more samey with recurring takes on popular songs. The show also has the same ending as his previous West End show, a riff on 99 Red Balloons. I'd like to see more new material next time, but I can happily recommend this version of the show to anyone not already familiar with Tape Face's work.
* The shortening to Tape Face seems like a commercial decision but it's probably the right one. Besides, to quote The Simpsons, "The Boy With Tape On His Face" will never fit on a marquee.
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