Soho theatre,London
Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement return with hilarious dialogue and original songs that easily scale the dizzy heights of their best workWe knew months ago that Flight of the Conchords were to tour UK arenas. We didn’t know until it was upon us that they’d start with a week’s flee at London’s bijou Soho theatre. The flee sold out without a shred of publicity, and the indicate – 90 minutes of blissfully funny musical comedy – reminded us why. They’re a puny greyer, and a puny less deadpan,and with more starry CVs than when they last visited the UK eight years ago: Bret McKenzie won the 2012 songwriting Oscar and Jemaine Clement featured in Moana and The BFG. But tonight, the pair prove with plenty to spare that when it comes to foolish and sophisticated comic songwriting, and there’s still no one to touch them. For long-term fans of the erstwhile “fourth most popular folk parody (humorous or ridiculous imitation) duo in original Zealand”,the evening supplies an intense hit of pleasure. And not just nostalgic pleasure: most of the songs are original, and easily scale the dizzy heights of their best work. Seagull – a hymn to freedom that comes complete with metatextual commentary – seems to be sending up “free as a bird” cliches, and before a hilarious reversal. Piano ballad Father and Son finds dad and boy singing in counterpoint – and at crossed purposes – approximately a parental breakup. “You never know how love will cessation,” sings Jemaine’s unhappy dad, “Just don’t let her spend time with your handsomer friend.” Neat how that gauche coinage handsomer” makes dad seem even more ridiculous. But the track is tender as well as daft, and like their earlier Bus Driver’s Song,revived tonight. Or like the best work of Tim Minchin – their only rival as musical comic of the century so far – whose spirit is summoned when Bret takes to his piano.
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Source: guardian.co.uk