Musical Comedy

March Comedian of the Month #45, Bo Burnham

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Each Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy is a comic who has never previously featured on the website. Reasons for selection can include various current projects the comedian is involved with, or perhaps recent appearances on television programmes or podcasts. There is no strict criteria however, as Comedian of the Month simply stands as a collection of recommendations, highlighting interesting and original aspects of certain comedians and their work.

It feels a rare thing to find a musical comedian who combines both integral elements with equal skill; in this case I’ve come across someone with a vocal range that matches their talented piano hands, teamed with a cheeky, ironic sense of humour. Bo Burnham is, unsurprisingly, a very popular US comedian. At the time of writing, Burnham has 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube and his stand up hour Make Happy was released on Netflix in 2016. So why haven’t I watched it until now? There’s no excuse.

Make Happy was recorded at the Capitol Theatre in New York and is a show that explores the harshness and downright unfunny-ness of this world in a loud, theatrical but non-egotistical fashion. Bo is an artistically progressive performer and it’s clear that he has a deep understanding of comedy and its place in today’s world. He’s self critical, and this means that he is constantly challenging himself (‘Original does not mean good. Anyone can do anything.’).

© Andy Hollingworth

Bo is 27; he has a young face but his audiences seem to easily to get on board and relate to him. This unquestioning trust might very well be down to how confidently he shows he understands his audience in relation to himself. He’s appealing to punters because he doesn’t seem to take himself, or his comedy, particularly seriously. He’s the butt of the jokes but he’s the king of the show.

It’s no wonder Bo Burnham has such a big turnout for his live shows; the whole thing is a theatrical performance. This is high energy, enthusiastic and all-encompassing entertainment, and I thoroughly recommend it if you need a pick-me-up.

For more information, follow Bo Burnham on Twitter, or visit his website.

COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

Review: Flossy and Boo – The Alternativity

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Ever wondered how our good old tradition of Christmas might look to someone who isn’t familiar with planet Earth? Flossy and Boo (played by Anja Conti and Laura Jeffs) are ‘not from round here’, and in light of their lack of knowledge of Christmas, the pair have devised a play, The Alternativity, all about their research into Christmas festivities. The show is that The Other Room, Cardiff, and I attend on behalf of Quench Magazine.

Dressed in flamboyant party dresses, with candyfloss coloured hair and painted on rosy cheeks and freckles, there is a confident energy that comes effortlessly along with Flossy and Boo. We are all given party hats as we enter, with the quirky pair curtseying and guiding us to our seats. It becomes immediately clear that this is going to be a peculiar evening. We kick off the festivities with an alternative alphabet of Christmas and it soon becomes clear that this pair don’t let up in terms of their spirit and vigour. They work very well together; with quite contrasting personalities which brings a lot of the humour.

© Flossy and Boo

Flossy and Boo are musical comedians, and what is charming about this is that they both have a genuine talent both for their instruments (primarily guitars and ukuleles), voice, and song writing. One song consists of Boo reading out humorous Christmas cards sent from bragging friends about what a great year they have all had, accompanied by Flossy on keyboard: a personal favourite.

With help from technician Bethan, the production makes fantastic use of lighting and music. While the original set is alive with twinkling Christmas lights, stockings around the fireplace and tinsel on the walls, the lights are frequently cut and the audience are left in utter blackness. This punctuation of light and dark adds an almost uncomfortable drama. In this way, the audience are kept on the edge of their seats, and despite the light-hearted and often overwhelming excitement of these two, there are some parts that are genuinely sinister. A letter from one of Santa’s elves, played aloud to the room, is particularly eerie, and this is an important tone change from the general make-up of the show, giving it a whole other dimension.

The audience are all quite heavily involved, whether that be through costume, joke reading, sprout holding, or simply holding Flossy’s hand. It’s all-inclusive fun, and I highly recommend you go and get a taste of it for yourself.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR FLOSSY AND BOO: THE ALTERNATIVITY AT THE OTHER ROOM (PLAYING THROUGHOUT DECEMBER) HERE.

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