Theatre Review: Jazz Hand Jubilation
“Scarborough Fair”, written and produced by Hazy Shade Productions (part of the KC Fringe Festival): seen September 23, 2012
This production hadn’t originally enticed me. While I like Simon & Garfunkel, due to Alice 102 playing Paul Simon what seems like four times a day, I’m a little over them. But in reading some of the reviews posted on the fringe.kcstage.com site and from a recommendation from a friend, I decided to give them a try last night – and boy howdy, am I glad I did.
Walking in, the two players are already on the floor, doing various yoga exercises that you only halfway pay attention to until you realize they’re doing it with a bit of silliness. Then, the show itself starts off with a bang with one of the best pre-curtain speeches I have ever heard (the pair had apparently ‘forgotten’ to turn off the recording).
The one called Scarborough looks like a bearded, younger, and shorter Steve Carell, while the one called Fair looks like the love child of Ron Megee and Timothy Dalton. The two are a Muzak version of Simon & Garfunkel, if such a thing is possible, and seem to take most of their cues from the Main Street Singers from A Mighty Wind.
From the total lack of acknowledgement of the crowd (including ‘encouraging’ audience participation of clapping to the beat, only to slightly go off the beat every so often), the sheer humorous pompousness of the two covering S&G (but not as partners!) is awesomely hilarious. (And what is it with kazoos in this year’s Fringe? This is now three shows I’ve seen that have involved them in some way.)
Of course, with every good comedy, there’s one or two serious/real moments, and in their cover of “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and “Sound of Silence” show that these two actually do know what they’re doing. Both are beautifully done, and show the performer behind the persona – if only just for a moment. There was a sparse audience when I caught it, and it was a shame – you really should go out and catch it.
“Scarborough Fair” performs two more times during the 2012 Fringe, and tickets are $10. More information can be found on the KC Fringe Festival’s website.
This review will (hopefully) be posted to the KC Stage review system. Agree or disagree? You can rate / review this show yourself (requires free registration) by going to fringe.kcstage.com (where every review gets you put into a drawing for prizes).