The Lovely Boys – Just The Tonic at The Caves

It’s very rare that a reviewer is left speechless after a comedy show but hours later, I’m still not sure what I had actually watched.

The lovely boys are not your average stand-up comedy duo, in fact the show could better be described as a strange psychedelic dream crammed into a nightmare-ish underground vault. This is not a comedy style that would fit the masses, but then Mr Bean became famous because of his clowning antics, why couldn’t these two.

The show is described by the duo as “one big hour of chaos glory” and they certainly aren’t wrong on the chaos part. Strange and disturbing character sketches had the audience wildly laughing almost as much as the two men had been laughing at themselves. Our primary characters “our two lovely boys” were the funniest part of the show, with their naive charms and wit.

I don’t want to spoil any of their routine so shall re frame from too much detail but the best way to describe the whole experience was like walking into your living room to see your television is stuck on the kid’s channels and you cannot find the remote, so you have to watch it, you have no idea what’s going on, but the comedy is simple enough.

Whilst the whole experience wasn’t for myself, it was clear that the majority of the audience were having a good time and the show I’ve been told has been selling out (although I’m not sure how many people buying tickets know exactly what they are in for as some audience members looked a bewildered as me). This is not a show for everybody but if you enjoy some silly fun that requires very little brain work then perhaps this show is for you.

The Lovely Boys plays at The Caves: The Wee One, until 28th August every day at 5:30pm. https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lovely-boys

Reviewer: Beth Eltringham

Reviewed: 19th August 2022

North West End UK Rating: ★★★