The audience know what they are going to see. In fact, they go exactly because ‘4 poofs and a piano’ do what’s in their title: four homosexuals poking fun at themselves and life in general, while singing and playing said piano. For that alone, they deliver. Not that the delivery is high class comedy or intellectual irony/sarcasm of the world’s injustices. To be fair, they don’t even attempt that. They are after the simple, likeable jokes, the obvious double entendres, the camp winks at the audience and the crass (but lightly amusing) comments. And the audience love it.
The show, divided into 4 sections in which each of the ‘poofs’ take centre stage, never feels long or boring, and some of their tunes stick to your head long after the hour is finished (though you wouldn’t want to be singing some of their songs in public!). They each play their stereotypes to perfection, and the banter between them never feels forced, though maybe a bit over-rehearsed. However, they shine when interacting with the public, not able to stop laughing themselves, and some of their unintended puns are funnier than the scripted ones, always a mark of a good comedian.
Out of the four of them, David Roper deserves full praise for not only being a talented pianist and singer, but also a joyful person in stage. And though you warm up to David Wickenden and Ian Parkin pretty easily (even if they somehow tend to over-act), it’s a shame that Stephen De Martin feels a bit too conceited with himself, making him the most annoying one.
With the final section being a laugh-a-minute riot, the show ends with a bang. Each performer competes in a sort of ‘ Britain ’s Got No Talent’ show, and it is impressive the little shame the four ‘poofs’ have, never embarrassed of taking it too far. Good thing they have such a catchy song involving anal penetration; otherwise, ‘4 pools and a piano’ could be an easily forgettable fun hour.
3/5 
Adrian G. Velazquez
(5 votes, average: 3.80 out of 5)
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