Boothby Graffoe and the April Fools at Leicester Square Theatre

Boothby Graffoe and the April Fools at Leicester Square Theatre

06 April, 2010
by: Evolmike

The elusive musical comedian has a new fan in Mike Stephenson as he attends The Fix April Fool's gig.

Boothby Graffoe

Who on Earth is Boothby Graffoe? And how on Earth or indeed anywhere has he attracted such a divine walnut whip of the country's finest comic fluency? Well I'll tell you. He's an extraordinarily tight musician wielding a small but extraordinarily tight group of musicians, each capable of accenting his punch lines utilising nothing but the very queerest echelons of their instrumental flair. He's also a supremely witty bastard (with mannerisms that from a distance, accurately and eerily remind me of the late great Douglas Adams) with a bravado that belies his cuddly demeanour, and a sly control over his lairy eyes only ever broken into uncontrollable corpsing by our esteemed secret guest, to whom I'll return.

Our first special guest is the ever mysterious Kevin Eldon, whose name may escape you but whose face you couldn't possibly forget, still determined as he is to be anything but Kevin Eldon. We're treated tonight to his poetry, which is in many ways, as poetry often is, satirical in itself on the very subject of poetry. But every now and again, between the careful waves of Thespian swagger, I swear we saw glimpses of what might be the real Kevin Eldon. It's the best possible platform for his peerlessly impeccable timing. Have no doubt, Eldon will school you every time.

Kevin Eldon

We are irrevocably determined to like Phil Kay. He plays chuggy rock riffs on a rather nice Telecaster, which is good to know, and he sings, albeit in one particular key. But that's all he does tonight. Known as a master of improvisation, he seemed a little uninspired by the scene, and despite his always impressive energy, the format rather restricts his usually uninhibited madcappery, resulting in a somewhat rushed, largely indecipherable set. Which is a shame. He really does try so hard. I still love you Phil.

Phil Kay

But yes, the very secret guest who can't be named. It wasn't a cruel April Fool's jape, it really was Bill Bailey (blessings and peace be upon him) sporting mostly new material, as polished yet gloriously and psychedelically tangential as ever. And you really don't mind when Bill does old familiar songy bits because they're songy bits! That's what's good about songy bits! I realise I'm preaching to naught but the already converted, but to understand me, you really have to experience the literally constant bemused laughter and good cheer that goes on in any given room containing Bill Bailey. The show finishes with a duet between Bill and Jim (sorry, Boothby) of Bill's classic Midnight in Parliament Square (a tramp cries out in the night etc.) featuring all manner of cutely offensive asides, which I'd better not go into for political reasons.

Bill Bailey and Boothby Graffoe

I leave the theatre thoroughly happy and fat with comic motivation and musical buzz. I simply must know more about this keen eyed multi-virtuoso calling himself Boothby Graffoe, and the bewitching warlock powers he harbours. And so must you.

Photo credit: The Fix

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Evolmike