Comedy: Tom Basden: Won't Say Anything, Underbelly, Edinburgh
Only a few skilled comics can successfully marry music with comedy; Tom Basden is the latest to join their ranks. Rather than composing many actual three- or four-minute songs in the manner of Billy Bailey, much of the 26-year-old's output is more about short ditties or musical one-liners, such as: "Is it Zara Phillips or is it the horse/ Is it Zara Phillips or is it the horse?/ Is it Zara Phillips or is it the horse?/ Which one of them is really talented?!"
This tomfoolery is accompanied by a picture of the subject on Basden's projector, allowing Basden to fulfil the intent of his show title and not speak at all. All his thanks for applause and quick quips in between numbers are delivered as text on screen, as are a multitude of visual gags or puns.
Many are reminiscent of Gary Larson's The Far Side or the multitude of copycat cartoons that followed, for example a cartoon showing how Rapunzel's hair didn't stretch far enough when she moved upstairs.
Very occasionally the sight gags distract from Basden's excellent musicianship and ludicrous lyricism ("I think my mum's become a nun/ or she's not very good at predictive texting") but more often than not they add value to the piece and act as an effective substitute to conventional stand-up banter.
To 26 August, not 13 (0870 745 3083)
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