Colourful and unapologetically flamboyant, Kaye’s cabaret is less a performance and more a sparkling collision of stand-up, live music and social commentary.
Kaye moves confidently between serious debate and deliberately provocative humour, tackling everything from declining birth rates and gender politics to Nazis and Hitler. There is plenty of innuendo and more than a few gay jokes, but beneath the flamboyance is an artist with something considerably more impressive up his sleeve and a remarkable ability to tell stories through song. His vocals are consistently strong, maintaining a seemingly effortless pitch.
The show’s greatest strength is Kaye’s ability to find humour within subjects that could easily become heavy. He never allows the more serious themes to overwhelm the entertainment, instead threading comedy through them with a confidence like no other. Audience interaction runs throughout the show, and at one point he even climbs onto members of the audience while continuing to sing. It is ridiculously creative and doesn’t compare to the typical show you see at the theatre.
The band deserves credit too, providing a talented musical foundation that allows Kaye to remain the centre of attention without ever feeling unsupported. This is an hour of flirtatious banter and delivered with a considerable amount of sparkle. Definitely recommend to the haters of Donald Trump.
Reuben Kaye: Hard to Swallow, 20:00 at Palais du Variété at Assembly George Square Gardens at 8 pm from August 6-8th – 11-15th – 18-22nd – 25-29th
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/reuben-kaye-hard-to-swallow
