The Traverse, Edinburgh
23rd April, 2025
Two men, one piano, & the brilliant, incisive, poetical words & lyrics of Victoria Wood, one of the greatest pioneers of female country these islands ever produc’d. Seminal, even. It’s been nigh a decade since her comedy light left this earth, but her art still blazes strong every time she returns to our screens, & also springs to poignant life in the pairing of singer, Paulus The Cabaret Geek (BBC1’s All Together Now) & pianist, Michael Roulston (Fascinating Aïda).
The show is call’d Looking For Me Friend, which was a hit in 2022 at the Edinburgh Fringe, & then subsequently tour’d all over the shop. Back again, & polish’d even shinier, for 2025, I avail’d myself of the chance of seeing the show for the first time at Edinburgh’s Traverse theatre.
It’s not just the WS Gilbertesque songs that make this jovial stew so special, it’s also the story of Paulus coming to terms with his sexuality in 1970s/80s Britain, thro’ which the comedy of Victoria Wood seem’d to be the shiny, guiding light of “its gonna be alright, mate, just be yourself & laugh as much as you can along the way!”
Overall, Looking For Me Friend is a very real, & very rare, treat – Paulus can sing, Michale can play, they share a very witty repartee, & of couse the comedy goddess that is Victoria Wood is watching down on proceedings with a massive bloody grin on her face – big cheers all round!
Damo
themumble.uk 