Comedy titans John Kearns and Adam Riches have teamed up for their new show, Ball and Boe – playing for only fourteen nights only at Soho Theatre. The show has specifically been kept under wraps to ensure that the audience is not really sure what’s going to happen when they enter the room, so without giving too many spoilers, the show follows a work-in-progress show that Michael Ball (Riches) and Alfie Boe (Kearns) are doing to iron out their new national tour.
Anyone familiar with Kearns knows that he’s a comedian’s comedian, which could be seen from the star-studded audience that was there on the evening. He has also gained a new following from his Taskmaster experience and his previous tours doing his character acting in a wig and false teeth. Riches, similarly to Kearns, is an Edinburgh fringe legend and a comedian’s favourite, appearing on shows such as 8 out of 10 Does Countdown. Both Kearns and Riches are well known for their ability to do amazing character acting, and this show was no different. Riches gives an over-the-top Michael Ball, constantly interacting with the audience and regularly thanking the ‘nurses, the armed forces’ and other key workers when thanking the audience. His singing was also so close to Michael Ball; it was incredible.
Kearns, on the other hand, remained quiet and soft-spoken, juxtaposing the “over-the- topness” of Riches’ Ball. But, in true Alfie Boe style, he always ensured he held that note for as long as he could. When you walked out of the show, they played some of the music from Ball and Boe’s album and that’s when it really hit how well they had portrayed their characters.
With the show being just sixty minutes and predominantly being a comedy show rather than a piece of theatre, there is minimal set, just a “B&B” and a few stools and microphones, but this was all that was needed. Riches and Kearns do all the heavy lifting; they could have done the show with nothing, and it still would have been fantastic. The lighting was also incredibly comedic, adding to the songs, and just showing how much effort Riches and Kearns had put into every single aspect of the show.
Anyone attending should expect an amazing night of comedy, filled with some of the best
comedic character acting and plenty of show tunes!
Ball and Boe runs at the Soho Theatre until 7th January.
★★★★★ (5*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
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