Before watching this show I had no clue how I was going to write up a review for a show where one person literally just sings a song for an hour. Surely, it’s going to be boring. I was completely wrong.
A countdown timer shows 60 minutes, despite the title I still found it hard to believe he would actually sing the same song repeatedly for an hour and call it a fringe show, or at least that it would be broken up by other skits and dialogue.
Conk, our singer for the night, walks out wearing a bright blue suit, the timer starts ticking down and he does exactly what he said he would. It’s an absurd concept, but due to Conk’s non-stop inventiveness, use of body movement, and variation of tone, it works. It’s rare a performer could pull this off, but he controls the room completely. Before we know it, the crowd feel like we’re all in this thing together with everyone being fully involved by the end with total abandon.
Somehow, every single rendition finds a new way to be funny. Running gags, costume changes, dramatic reinterpretations and lots of audience participation. One person is sent to go get him a pint while another is handed an instrument to play along with.
The use of props is particularly effective – a banana, a face cloth and even cover girl magazines with his face pasted on which he hands out to the audience.
By the end no one is checking the clock, not even him.
Man Sings the Same Song Over and Over again for an Hour, 19:45, Red Lecture
Theatre at Summerhall, 6th – 31st (not 17th and 24th)
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/man-sings-the-same-song-over-and-over-again-for-an-hour
