Review – The Boy with Tape on his Face: More Tape
The Boy with Tape on his Face has been a perennial Adelaide favourite for quite a few Fringes now. The New Zealand-born performer’s first show did extremely well at the Fringe and overseas. This sequel – More Tape – premiered at the 2011 Adelaide Fringe to great acclaim, and after a few sold out Edinburgh Fringe and UK tours, he’s brought it back to the Vagabond theatre in the Garden of Unearthly Delights.
If you’ve seen him before, you know what to expect – quirky physical and props-based comedy with a healthy dose of audience participation. If you haven’t, well, it’s about time you did. It’s an extremely polished and well-executed show (all due praise and more to the often-overlooked tech desk operator), as well-made as it is quirky and charming. The amount of emotion and humour conveyed by just the Boy’s eyes and physical mannerisms is incredible – his awkwardly endearing stage presence is the highlight of the show.
A significant aspect of the show is the involvement of audience members. Be warned – you may be called on to participate, and it’s hard to debate the point with a man whose mouth is taped shut. But you’re safe enough. The Boy is a charming and friendly host, nobody was seriously mocked or humiliated (though one awkward moment is quite deliberately engineered toward the end) and each received a resounding round of applause as they resumed their seat.
The final moments of the show are absolutely wonderful, but I won’t spoil the fun. The Fringe is often about taking a gamble on unknown shows, but The Boy with Tape on his Face is no risk – he’s a proven favourite who well deserves his excellent reputation. If you’re in the Garden for a show or two, you can’t go wrong with More Tape.
