Topping & Butch

Hark - award winning musical comedy duo Topping and Butch have brought their new show, Sex, Drugs and Harriet Harman, to London's Leicester Square theatre for a Wednesday night residency in the lead up to Christmas.

Last night the show opened with a surprise - Topping taking to the stage not in the usual leather but a stylish dark velvet lounge suit which perfectly complimented the faded velour of this kitsch but hip venue.

However, any pretence of mannered sophistication was soon gleefully turned on it's head as Topping opened with a satirical take on the ongoing parliamentary expenses scandal, in which MPs recalled their misdemeanours as if memorising prizes from a Generation Game conveyor belt.

Topping was soon joined by an equally sartorial Butch, and together they explained their homage to Ms Harman before launching into the wickedly funny, politically incorrect and highly topical “Never mind”, which satirised news and celebrity stories from the last week, including Robbie William’s reported engagement, Thierry Henry’s infamous hand ball, and the capture of the British yacht crew in Iran – all laudably done with impeccably bad taste.

Next, a hilarious spoof of the Cat Stephens’ song ‘Father and Son’, which began with a confessional account of Butch’s fear of coming out to his father, but quickly spiralled into a scenario where the father owns up to all manner of kinkiness from his own colourful gay alter-ego.

This device of beginning a story in seeming earnest was again successfully employed in the second half, with Susan Boyle at first revered, critiqued, and then finally put to the sword as Butch portrayed her singing “I dreamed a dream” to Toppings prompted, twisted lyrics.  

Although the West End musical parody has been done to death, the boys still pulled off a song which cut across a number of musical styles and clichés before delivering a killer, tongue in cheek chorus, complete with exaggerated jazz hands, high kicks, and rousing vocals.  Although the refrain was “this is a terrible song” it was, perhaps inevitably, a bit of a show stopper.

Less successful was a short skit on Lily Allen, which poked fun at the pop star’s lack of originality but ironically seemed lazy and formulaic.  But this was a short glitch in an otherwise gloriously funny evening.

Throughout the performance Butch’s feigned naivety was complemented perfectly by the saucier, more overt naughtiness of Topping, and apart from a couple of first night hiccups this was a polished performance from two artists who have developed a sophisticated comedy double act.

The boys were also briefly joined by two guest artists.  Sultry chanteuse Maria Tecce, fresh from her acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show, wowed the audience with an acoustic version of “Besame Mucho” before joining Butch in a sexual send-up of  Robbie and Nicole’s  ‘Something Stupid’.

Four Poofs and a Piano also made an enjoyable cameo appearance, delighting the audience with their close harmonies on 'Three Bells' before performing the risqué and suitably interactive  “Do you take it up the arse?” , which the audience was encouraged to join in the chorus.  It all added to the fun and made for a highly enjoyable night out.
 
Sex, Drugs and Harriet Harman  - An Evening with Topping and Butch, continues at the Leicester Square Theatre, London on 9th and 16th December.

For tickets call:  0844 847 2475

www.toppingandbutch.com