When you are asked not to sit in the front three rows you wonder why. Fortunately it’s not because we are going to get mauled or messy, it’s just that Benn’s brand of musical comedy requires a little distance to be enjoyed properly. While you may not get as ‘up close and personal’ as you might like, the enigmatic Benn, and his fabulous Distractions, certainly wallop out a set that will have you begging for more.
Far from being a poor man’s Weird Al, Benn makes these comic medleys his own and takes you on a whirlwind tour of history via Elvis, an Oasis/Beatles amalgam and a truly inspired Eminem reworking of Macbeth (or is that a Shakespearean remix of My Name Is?) Far from being just a ‘funny song guy’ Benn has a bit of bite. While far from making a serious dent in the world’s problems, he easily convinces the audience to ridicule the gutter press to delightful comic effect.
It’s unfair to heap all this praise solely on Benn, as The Distractions deserve as much credit as their front man. With Tash Bayliss on drums and Kirsty Newton on bass, keyboards and vocals, The Distractions form the perfect accompaniment to Benn’s strong, vibrant vocals and help drive this wonderful show forward.
Without doubt, Mitch Benn and the Distractions are a guaranteed crowd pleaser. They are larger than life, outrageously funny and hugely entertaining. Benn claims he is used to being mistaken for Bill Bailey, and other large comedians, but this should no longer be a problem, as nobody who sees him this year will forget him in a hurry.
5/5
Jennie Biggs
