Review: ROB BRYDON - A NIGHT OF SONGS & LAUGHTER, Festival Theatre Edinburgh - Tour
It’s rare to come across a show as aptly named as Rob Brydon’s A Night of Songs & Laughter, but this one really delivers exactly what it promises – songs and laughter aplenty. From the moment he steps onstage, Brydon has the audience in the palm of his hand, and we spend the next two and a half hours absolutely mesmerised by the charm and wit of this natural showman.
Brydon is one of Britain’s best-loved comedians and in this show, he takes us on a journey through his life, starting with numbers from Guys & Dolls, a musical he performed when he was at school. We’re also treated to songs that remind him of his time at drama school, the birth of his child, and various jobs he’s had throughout his career. The songs are interwoven through what is essentially a mini stand-up routine, complete with masses of audience interaction and, of course, the myriad of impressions that Brydon is famed for. Among others, we got Steve Coogan, Elvis, Tom Jones and Dustin Hoffman, all pitch perfect.
The music is spectacular – Brydon really is quite an exceptional vocalist, and showcases a wide range of styles and genres throughout the show. A real highlight is the ‘I’m Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue’ inspired segment where he performs the lyrics of the Spider-Man theme song to the tune of ‘Bring Him Home’ – it really has to be seen to be believed, but the audience were in hysterics! We were also huge fans of his rousing rendition of ‘Delilah’, which brought Act 1 to a close. The 9-piece band, under musical director Paul Herbert, provide an excellent accompaniment to Brydon’s vocals, showing great versatility. It is wonderful to see each instrumentalist get a moment to shine and showcase their talents in the interludes of ‘Everybody Wants to Be a Cat’ – Brydon has certainly assembled a top-level band for this tour.
It takes great skill to easily banter with an audience, and it’s a skill that Brydon has in spades. He interacts with several members of the audience, remembering their names and information about them, which all comes to fruition early in Act 2 when he performs a song with lyrics written in the interval about the key players he’s spoken to. This song really reminds us of Brydon’s quick wit – he remembers so many different people that he speaks to only briefly, and has put together these rhyming lyrics in just twenty minutes. It’s really impressive, and gets a very enthusiastic reception.
Just when we think the show has hit its peak, Brydon swaps out his suit jacket for a dowdy cardigan, and suddenly Uncle Bryn is in the room with us. His iconic character from Gavin and Stacey takes centre stage for the grand finale – and no, he didn’t tell us what happened on the fishing trip! Bryn leaves us with a crowd-pleasing rendition of ‘Islands in the Stream’, and the audience is encouraged to sing along with him, as we have been several times throughout the show. It’s an absolutely delightful end to a wonderfully entertaining night, one which cemented Brydon’s rightful status as a British icon for us. We simply loved it.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Lorna Murray
Rob Brydon continues on his tour around the country until the end of March 2024, with further information here.