When a show opens with two not so young men in red leather bondage gear singing “Music to Watch Boys By”, you know you are not going to get an hour of highbrow dirge. Instead, you are going to get Topping and Butch, two wonderfully camp and extremely funny musical performers.
Topping and Butch work extremely well together, not only making the audience laugh but themselves as well. It is this fresh spark that makes them so approachable to both the gay and mainstream audiences alike.
Like their previous offerings, the show consists of topical songs and parodies interspersed with rapid-fire comedy with Butch setting up the gag and Topping adding the finishing touch. These innuendo-filled routines are wonderful fun to watch and come across more like improvised banter rather than scripted work.
I particularly enjoyed the musical parody “Les Vegetables” and the love song to a Glaswegian, Topping’s new muse. However, I was less than impressed with the Chav finale, as it felt forced and not up to the creative level that they are more than capable of reaching. And thank god I was not one of the poor innocents who got sprayed with Burberry aftershave!
A Lot To Take In is a funny, well-written and superbly performed show. Even when dealing with technical issues Topping and Butch are delightfully engaging and smart. I love them and I’m not even gay!
4/5
Alexander Donald
