The Boy With Tape On His Face

Written by Caroline Whitham | 19 August 2011

Last year, nobody was quite prepared for The Boy With Tape On His Face. An hour of mime? Isn’t that akin to having your brains slowly pulled out through your eyes, knowing all the while that you paid for the privilege? Why would anyone put themselves through that?

However, despite the tough sell, guest spots at a number of late night gigs plus rapturous reviews convinced audiences to give him a try, and saw the Boy become a sell-out on his first rodeo, with an inevitable return with the same show and a bigger venue for this year’s Fringe.

Intrigued by the hype, and having missed him last year, I made sure I snapped up a ticket for this year’s run. I must be the toughest audience for this kind of show – after a blind person – because I hate slapstick (unless it’s a cat falling over on a youtube video, which is ALWAYS hilarious, I don’t care what anyone else says) and clowning/silent comedy just doesn’t appeal.

Fellow Tapers this evening included Paul Daniels and the Lovely Debbie McGee, both of whom I think must be tough critics, having worked in the business we call ‘show’ for so long. They both stood at the end to join in the frenzied standing ovation, as did I.

All of this has been a long way around of saying that I don’t want to spoil the show for you by explaining it too much. If you didn’t see it last year, make sure you don’t miss out on this second chance. If you did see it last year, I’m sure you already have your ticket booked.

One tip – if it’s any weeknight and you walk down the hill outside the Pleasance at a brisk pace, just as you cross the road beside the station the Tattoo fireworks will go off above the Castle, expressing your post-Boy mood perfectly. It’s simply euphoric.

The Boy With Tape on His Face, Pleasance Beyond, 15-28 August, 21.10