Airnadette @ Underbelly Cowbarn

Review by Tony Makos | 19 Aug 2013

I’m struggling with what just happened here, so, from the top - six very talented physical performers bound on to the stage and begin to mime & lip sync to a soundtrack glued together from film quotes, slapstick sound effects and snippets from a range of pop and rock tunes. That’s it. After 10 minutes I'm thinking “get me out of here” (I can go and play air drums in my own home you know) – a post-ironic display of physical energy and Glee-esque dubbing is not what this reviewer wants from something billed as a “comedy” show. The row of girls in front of me is already bouncing and singing along. Ugh.

Then, something clicks. Forget the story: the performers are supposed to be signed as an “air band,” they go on tour, blah blah who cares. I give in to the relentless soundtrack – think Cassetteboy meets YouTube supercut meets a Looney Tunes karaoke session –  with featured movie lines triggering my inner film geek, and as a cast member pretends to snort a line of coke the width of the stage before pratfalling to the floor yet again it dawns on me – this is a late night cult show waiting to happen. Put it on post midnight in front of a well-refreshed audience, and not a sober stick-in-the-mud like me. It seems the girls in front had the right idea.

It’s loud, stupid, brash, cheesy and yes, it’s pretty funny. More infectious than a virus, by the end I was playing air drums to the big finale with the 50 year-old guy sitting beside me. Don’t judge me – see it for yourself.

Airnadette, Underbelly Cowbarn, Until 26 Aug (not 19), 20:50, £15.50/£14.50 http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/music/airnadette