Review: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2017: DAVE CALLEN: EVERY VIDEO CLIP EVER* at The Rhino Room

Reviewed by Christine Pyman, Saturday 4th March 2017

Dave Callen shares his unique take on popular culture in an hilarious and jaw-achingly funny show, Dave Callen: Every Video Clip Ever*. The incongruity of a large hairy Viking-like man doing familiar sexy dance moves is only part of the humour of this show, as most of it comes from Callens observational wit. As promised in the title, video clips from well-known pop songs were parodied in front of us, but with many more laughs than the originals. Lyrics were dissected and choreography rightly ridiculed.

The 80's, 90's and 00's were all covered by Callen and his two fabulous backup dancers. From Abba to Psy, Queen to Beyoncé, Dirty Dancing', and the Village People, to the Macarena, every defining move was mirrored, brilliantly. Cleverly interspersed with especially made videos carrying on the theme, this comedy is something that stays with you and gives a more expanded experience of music clips.

I think that I can guarantee that once Dave Callen has explained, explored and demonstrated a video clip for you, you will never see or hear it in quite the same way again. Frida, from Abba, will forever flash into your mind as bearded and sweaty, with a light Scots accent. His anthology started with Queens accidental discovery of the art of the video clip, helped along by audience members, and continued at a sweaty pace for an hour, with no one wanting it to stop. Our three dancers on the stage captured the essence of decades of video clips.

Callen's stand-up, which is often lie down, spin around, hump the floor, or lunge to the left with a pelvic thrust, is exhilarating, exhausting to watch, and brilliant. Don't worry, Darryl Braithwaite was only a small part of the show.

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