"Are you younger or older than Adele?" is the question asked in an engaging manner, getting us in the feel of the show, by Rhiannon and Sally as we enter. It doesn't matter if you really are or not (I am), you still get a sticker. While not being a fan of the themed safety notices, in this instance it might have been effective as the standard recording does take us back out of the show, having being brought into it moments earlier. A small point.The idea is that at a young age Adele has become a megastar writing mega hit songs. It dawns on our struggling duo that all this was accomplished while Adele was younger than them. The question is how and why haven't they found that success? There is advice from 'Adele' herself, in voice over, the style we are all familiar with from seeing her interviewed on Graham Norton, while also keeping the Adele theme going throughout. But it is fun. She advices the pair to go out, live a little and inspiration will come.
They start off single, give advice about the friend-zone, get boyfriends, promising not to be those annoying people who always talk about said boyfriends, but do anyway. It is their tale that is the thread through it, more via misadventures, but they are more fun to hear about. Both performers come across confident and comfortable on stage, in more comedy show, stand up, but they do poke fun at the multiple roles played by one person, by becoming another character by simply putting on a hat.
No Adele songs were harmed in the making of this show, as the pair go for musical theatre style comedy songs, that do sound the way modern musical theatre comedy songs sound, while others reminded me of Kerrigan and Lowdermilk (I should have given a nerd warning before that reference). At times the chorus of these songs felt ready to sore and does show off the pairs singing skills. The best moment was the cinema song, where the plot of a rom-com is narrated, while our popcorn munching pair realise that real life is not quite like the perfect serendipity the film suggests. There is also the wonderful gangsta inspired rap by, well, an upper middle class posh girl, including a flute solo, that tells us she is all about organised fun. And it is great fun.
Both Rhiannon and Sally sing excellently, with tight harmonies, accompanied by the pianist, James Taylor, who does sing a few times. It is all very pleasant, accessible and enjoyable, even if I am not the target audience they have in mind. It is the type if show that can be put on anywhere, a couple of microphones, prop table and pianist. It is enjoyable, giving us a comic look at being older (slightly) than Adele, but more important showcasing the talent of these two wonderful performers.
Runs until 25th Feb 2017
Written, performed and presented by Stiff & Kitsch (Sally O'Leary and Rhiannon Neads)
Musical Direction/Pianist: James Taylor
More info: www.stiffandkitsch.com