An hour long show about the song Mr Brightside….do you think it’s a hit? Oh it’s definitely a hit.
Coming out of my Cage (And I’ve been doing just fine) goes into the deep depths of mega cult sensation – Mr Brightside by the Killers. This show is an interactive investigation with karaoke, throwing apples and absolute bangers. Hannah Follows and Tim Chapman take you on an amazingly silly journey through their research into the song that has been in the charts consistently for 18 years and their mission to find a karaoke superstar that goes by the name of Brampton Flowers. Playing Underbelly Cowgate (Iron Belly) at 21:40 until 28th August.
Coming out of my Cage gives you everything you want from a show. Laughter, sadness, happiness and the best one of all, security and relaxation. The audience interaction with the performers, the story and also with fellow audience members breaks down that security wall everyone has and completely relaxes you into the show and puts you at such ease you don’t care about singing at the top of your lungs in a room full of strangers – because you are all doing it together. The fact that Shepard Tone managed to make a full show just about the song Mr Brightside is impressive, but what is mind blowing is how brilliant it was! Every single element executed to perfection and both performers were the epitome of energy.
Hannah Follows and Tim Chapman were both phenomenal. The energy they brought, their comedic timing and the story telling from both performers was brilliant. They worked as a team and their genuine friendship shone through as the chemistry on stage was so smooth and easy for them both. Both actors’ facial expressions were a prominent feature of their individual performances. Hannah’s facial expressions expertly drew the audience into the dialogue and kept them interested and intrigued. Tim’s reactionary skills and physical comedy were a prominent part of his performance. From his reactions to the audience themselves to his imitation of a new single Pringle on the Brampton village Facebook page. Everything landed and the audience lapped up anything both performers through at them.
The use of videos and projection was a great break from the energetic, fast paced action on stage and added a suspenseful element with the story of Brampton Flowers and the pairs road trip mission to Brampton Rotherham. In between scenes you were really excited to see the next chapter of the mission and this just felt like a very fun way to break up the action.
The music was also hilarious. It’s quite pleasing to think that for this show, Follows and Chapman learned how to play Mr Brightside on 6 different instruments. The Mr Darkside meme song was an amusing touch and a great way to ease the audience into singing along as the audience gradually began to loosen up and by the finale it was literally a concert.
A part of the show was imagining a set up and focusing us on feeling comfortable together and breaking down the walls of being strangers. However, the big twist was a touching one as they revealed the story Brian O’Sullivan, an Irishman who paid tribute to his late friend with a rendition of Mr Brightside at their favourite bar in Co Kerry – Falveys. This was such an offset of atmosphere and emotion but it was an amazing change to the atmosphere and really brought together the feeling of community and connecting through music that had been a theme of the whole.
In conclusion, Shepard Tone’s Coming out of my cage (And I’ve been doing just fine) is entertainment at its very best. A show you would, and will, happily see over and over again as the atmosphere will never get old. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of Mr Brightside.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Get your tickets for ‘Coming Out of My Cage’ below:
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/coming-out-of-my-cage-and-i-ve-been-doing-just-fine
Theatre Scotland 
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