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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Priorité à Gauche - Unplugged
Verdict: Franglais as she's sung
Priorité à Gauche are Jean-François and Didier, a couple of French rock stars - they'd have us believe - full of Gallic charm, and fairly filthy in song. Specialising in double entendres some way in advance of Carry On! and Benny Hill - but in similar territory - the lads now present a fortnightly Thursday show. It lasts about 1hr-30 min including interval. Tonight they're joined by guest Pete Gold.
Avid fans of PaG know their back-story: new ones can cheat - (Edinburgh 02 review). Since then, they've leapt ahead: although still international and world-famous, they've given up rap, and become 'Un-plug-ged'.
Songs tonight include:
Priorité à Gauche ('We're going to come in your ears'); Frogman - tribute to deep-sea diver Jean Cocteau and naughty French underwater puns on minutae of shagging; The Woman Of Brussels - mismatched love affair between waiter and weight-lifter incorporating French/Belgian enmity; Luxembourg - 'a little song about a little country'; Marcel Marceau - 'you've been acting kind of quiet'; Napoleon - 'the man who came second at Waterloo' - a deflation of the small man's sexual ability; Grand Fromage - tart ridicule of Prime Minister Blair and President Bush; Oh Please Don't Take It Out On The Cheese - sharp political satire on post-war US/French relationsip; I Woke Up This Morning - frenzied blues parody; Bonjour - French stereotypes demolished and list of every famous French person; Ecoutez et Répétez - audience participation French lesson.
With the gifted guitarist, singer and composer Pete Gold, PaG form a trio for two of his classic songs (see search box for previous Pete Gold reviews): I Love To Love A Love Song - Bryan Adams deconstructs his song-writing method; Everyone's Smoking Hash - witty celebration of marijuana.
If the central joke of PaG centres round the eternal amusement of the English at the funny people below the Channel, the strength of the show lies in some sharp original jokes, and the high quality of the songs - and their delivery. Didier's expertise on lead guitar and harmonica, and Jean-François's on rhythm guitar, full-size double-bass, ukulele and lead vocals, delight.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Written, directed and produced by Priorité à Gauche. Jean-François - assisté par Justin McCarron. Didier - assisté par Arnold Widdowson.
Venue Credits: Pub Manager, The Albany - Antonio. Technical Manager - Venue Staff. Venue Managers (alpha order): Louie Bayliss, Felicity Wren, James Wren.
END
John Park
reviewed Thursday 18 March 04 / Lowdown At The Albany
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
