- The Tiger Lillies - Punch and Judy
- Rating ***
A Show With Punch!
Formed in 1989 the eccentric jazz trio The Tiger Lillies has developed a global cult following for their surreal, burlesque shows. Pianist/ singer Martyn Jacques sings high falsetto, accompanied by his vaudeville counterparts, Adrian Huge on drums and Adrian Stout on double bass. Their distinctive songs are like musical short stories, miniature narratives on the theme of sex, death, drink, depravity and the down and out losers of life. Think of the laid back tone of Tom Waits blended with the dark contours of Brecht/Weill, and you get the sound picture.
The characterisation and themes of the Punch and Judy stories slots perfectly into Tiger Lillies' style of bittersweet songs. Forget images of the favourite long nosed, goggle-eyed buffoon of children's puppet shows. This music-based show presents a very dark, sadistic interpretation based on the original 17th century Italian Commedia del arte morality tale. Jacques, dressed in classic red and yellow costume, triangular hat and red nose, talks of his dysfunctional family, drunkenness, his mad mother, which led him to become a wife beater, child murderer and serial killer. A series of bleak, Blues songs - e.g." If Only Mummy Loved Me I would be Sane" - relates the story, while a screen backdrop showing silent movie boards, a puppet show and huge blow-up dolls illustrate the characters.
Brilliantly dramatised, on one level it is extraordinarily clever and entertaining but the subtext is cruel, crude, grotesque and occasionally blasphemous. This is Punch and Judy for adults only. The Tiger Lillies have created a witty, perverse cabaret style of performance that they do not need to add a more dramatic dimension. Next time please - just a concert of those fabulous jazz/punk songs. Meanwhile this show certainly has punch!
When and Where
Pod Deco (Venue No 75), 7 Clerk Street (former Odeon cinema). Runs to 29 August at 10.45pm every evening.Vivien Devlin, August 2004
Return to Index of 2004 Fringe Reviews.
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