A whimsical piece devised by three artists seemingly disillusioned with the straighter side of the acting world, Scales of the Unexpected takes a relatively inviting look at pop culture under the guise of the half-sunk dinner party critic or quirky bystander leading us through an hour of inoffensive cultural jibes at those society tells us to admire.
Ian Bass, Ian Brandon and Bryan Pilkington are tried and tested dramatists, notching up acclaim through song writing, illustration, direction and acting respectively. This talent pool is noticeable as all three leading men sit comfortably in control of the audience and perform with a sense of precision. The performance doesn't feel forced, even if the strongest work is the lyrics themselves and not the showmanship, which at times feels a little limp and unoriginal. Still, the hour is a comfortable, fun and often belly-laugh-funny journey through a melange of recent pop accomplishments.
Lady Gaga, Kylie and Katy Perry are all parodied under the watchful guidance of a camp sub-culture embraced by the three performers, which the audience lapped up with joy. Simplistic jokes reign, as the trio question the nature of Katy Perry's Avant Gardism; she'll kiss a girl, but what about...?
Despite whimsical chats about the sexual awakening of teen idol Perry, it was 'man band' Take That which suffered the most, and subsequently brought in the most laughs, and so they should have: bland lyrics containing generalisations and promises of grandeur were mimicked as the trio questioned the sensibilities of the most die-hard Barlow fans.
These three provide solid belly laughs and their irreverent critique was a pleasure to watch but their brand of Cabaret doesn't truly stand out as innovative or truly challenging. On the basis that their lyricisms and fast-paced puns are the funniest and indeed more intelligent part of the show, I wonder if their work would stand out away from this style of performance and placed into something less theatrical.
Still, the show is an enjoyably camp, well mastered and professional experience which will prove worthwhile, especially for the cynical pop fan.
