Photo: Justin Ma

Glowing candles and blood red lights are all that illuminate the theatre, casting long shadows against the backdrop as the troupe, collectively known as Mikelangelo & The Black Sea Gentlemen, begins to play. The room fills with the sounds of Eastern Europe as deep Baltic baritones, a violin, double bass, accordion and guitar all spring to life. Using a concoction of songs, acting and dark poetry these five men tell macabre, bizarre and hilarious stories about taxidermy, death and sex, among other things. Throughout the show, Mikelangelo forces complete audience participation, leaving few people free of caresses and kisses, and at one stage clambering over my companion and myself wearing only a pair of small wrestling trunks! During A Formidable Marinade, the audience is lost in laughter as he perches sensually on various men’s knees singing “Sodomy is not just for animals / Human flesh is not just for cannibals / I’ll feast on your body if you’ll feast on mine / Blood is thicker and redder than wine!” The ability of these men as performers and showmen is brilliant and the pace, colour and ingenuity of the show is incomparable. It is perfectly composed, immensely entertaining and unique, a romp that is weird, deliciously dark and hysterically funny – Mikelangelo & The Black Sea Gentlemen are a pure delight.

NINA ATKINSON

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