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Blowing the socks off the Corn Exchange from the off, Frisky & Mannish continued where their previous shows left off:assuming their audience as a roomful of wannabes hungry for their barbed advice as to how to progress in the world of pop. More interactive than ever before, peppered with brilliant and versatile vocals and fabulous dance moves, this wonderful cabaret couple continue to lampoon their musical icons and disposable musical fads with ostentacious aplomb. After their last show had begun to show cracks, it was great to see them back on biting form.

Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, 7 October
Rating:
Victoria Nangle

Not quite an hour as promised but packed full of puns, stories and songs in Phil Nichol’s signature high energy style, with a scattergun delivery that hit the funny bone more often than not. Nichol’s was forgiven for those that missed the mark because of his incredibly high likeability factor. There were moments of full on hilarity, matched by those of paused confusion at not quite hitting the mark but with a confidence that the next one would. A lot of this show had been seen before, but that never stood in the way of a fine crescendo thanks to ‘The Only Gay Eskimo’.

Pavilion Theatre, Brighton Dome, 7 October
Rating:
Victoria Nangle

Chris Cox is a self-described mind reader who can’t read minds. He also refers to himself as a “skinny magic boy”, but he’s also a charmer, a comedian, an artist, a dancer, and anything else you might want him to be. Ultimately, he’s a crowd-pleaser, and in constructing this show around a loose linear framework he’s worked out exactly what each crowd wants – and delivers. His strength isn’t in the puns he’s constructed but in the awe he orchestrates. I won’t say what or how as that might ruin it for the next audience, but suffice to say the people leaving at the end of the show were not only smiling but filled with an optimistic reassurance about the world. This may not be magic, but it’s not far off.

Pavilion Theatre, Brighton Dome, 9 October
Rating:
Victoria Nangle

It takes a highly skilled comedian to make the half-full cavernous Corn Exchange buzz with electricity and Andrew Maxwell broke the meter. Unashamedly angry and political, Maxwell nonetheless brought a warmth and playfulness to proceedings; his piece on how the media treats the Middleton sisters was sharp, accurate and a brilliant bit of physical comedy. The routine on the riots was original and the funniest of its kind I’ve seen. I will also never look at Dougal from Father Ted in the same way. Maxwell should be selling out the Concert Hall rather than half filling the Corn Exchange.

Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, 8 October
Rating:
Simon Plotkin