5

	The Barcelo Brighton Old Ship Hotel (venue website) Comedy 9-12, 16-19, 23-26 May, 7:45pm-10:00pm Reviewed by Darren Taffinder
Suitable for age 15+ only.  Warning: Contains flashing lights.  Warning: Contains strong language.  World Premiere.  2-for-1 tickets for Friends of the Fringe members.

If you like your comedy difficult, with a cutting political edge that makes you think long and hard afterwards about the emptiness of your life… then this isn’t the show for you. If you like Carry On films, innuendo, slapstick, laughing out loud and high-energy dance-offs, then I can’t recommend it high enough. And if there is one thing that I love, it’s a dance-off.

I must admit I was a little nervous at the prospect of Cock & Tail Inn 2. After all, I hadn’t seen Cock & Tail Inn 1, and we all know that sequels can be a mixed experience. Having to walk through the Old Ship’s underground car park to get to the theatre – a strange Tudor-themed bunker of a room – didn’t help, and I’m not a big fan of mid-80’s nostalgia, feeling that living through it once as early-teen was enough.

Then the show started, and all was forgiven.

Silliness is underrated, and this show had silliness in spades. Written and directed by John Scott Cobb, you don’t need to have seen the first Cock & Tail Inn to understand what’s going on – a quick opening prologue is enough to catch you up. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy, as nice-guy Mike tries to mend his broken heart.

Mike is dating the mysterious Deborah (or Deb-or-ah – why does she always run off at midnight?), while fending off Austrian newcomer Steffi.  She’s the mother of gay DJ Helmut, who is being blackmailed into selling drugs by baddie Vince (dressed in a wardrobe stolen from Miami Vice).  Meanwhile, bartender Larry is trying to keep the owner of the Cock & Tail – his S&M sex-mad wife Molly – happy. And that’s just the first act.

What makes it all work is the cast’s willingness just to go for it.  As the plot becomes more and more ridiculous (in a good way), they seem to become more and more committed. Special mentions must go to Matt Fox, who plays upper-crust toff Dick, and Chris Wiloughby’s Vince. Both are superb, especially the hilarious Vince, but my favourite was gin-drinking lollipop lady Gladys, played by June (the actress’s last name isn’t given, in an apparent bid to protect the innocent).  Gladys simply spends the entire show drunk, playing solitaire and making faces.

Best of all, the Kenny-Everett-style innuendo stayed on just the right side of the line between cleverness and rudeness.  It’s the sort of play you can take your mother to and not be too embarrassed, which was good, since I took my mother.

A great, fun night out. I cannot recommend it highly enough.