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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Flight of the Conchords
present
FOLK THE WORLD
Verdict: hilarious songs and stand-up
Edinburgh - Gilded Balloon Cave 1 - August 02
Flight of the Conchords are Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie - two New Zealand guitarists / singers - and the secret surprise of the Fringe. Well, surprise to most, but not to pretty Anna from Edinburgh, sitting next to us with her mates. They'd already been a few times. And the applause that met every song in the Conchords's tight, funny set, suggested they'd a new army of fans in Edinburgh, or flown a plane-load over from Wellington.
Clement and McKenzie kick off with Lost and Lonely at Sea, probably the most offensive cannibal sea-shanty to find its way into maritime lore, setting the tone for the excellently subtle filth and squalor to follow. There's romance with office stationery in The Cellotape of Love ('The kind of love that's double-sided'), mouths - A kiss is not ..., and no-holds-barred office lust in the glorious Leggy Blonde.
It's back to the 70's as the Conchords explore their previously-unknown influence on David Bowie. Bowie's in Space catches the lyric style and voice of the master to perfection ('You should hear his parody of us'). Albee the Racist Dragon sees Albee mending his naughty ways. In Tony the Bus Driver an embittered driver narrates his loss of life-chances to his captive passenger-audience. Taxi drivers take note.
Conchords continue their philosophical analysis with the self-explanatory Too Many Motherfuckers. Keyboard player David joins them on stage for the French Song, which starts with Je t'aime and degenerates ('le coq sportif') excellently. It's safe to say no-one French will understand a word of this one. David leaves, and the Conchords are back on their own with an All Around the World finale. For an encore they do Angels, and it's not Robbie Williams.
Flight of the Conchords delivers a combination of stand-up (well, sit-down) comedy and fine close-harmony singing that's a delight, and gloriously funny. It's a blissful entertainment, skillfully delivered by fine and charismatic artists.
Written, performed and directed by Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie. Keyboard - David. Technical management - Gilded Balloon staff.
Footnote: Anyone puzzled by shouts of 'Figwit' at Conchords gigs may like to know that Brett McKenzie is also famous world-wide for a 3-second appearance in Lord of The Rings (Council of Elrond scene). Rings fanatics have named the character 'Figwit', and a film crew follows the bemused McKenzie round Edinburgh.
END
John Park
reviewed Saturday 24 August 02 / Gilded Balloon Cave 1
related note on Figwit - Official Edinburgh Fringe Site
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2011
