Fringe Review – Richard Carpenter is Close To You (rating: 3/5)
There was genuine confusion about this show. Unless you had carried out your research you weren’t really sure what you were getting.
This is a parody of Richard Carpenter’s life after Karen and some audience members – obviously Carpenters’ purists – were expecting a straight-up tribute. They didn’t crack a smile as Richard aka Matthew Floyd Jones tried to send himself up as the left behind sibling.
Indeed he was invited to take part in a reality show called “The Shit Sibling” featuring Latoya Jackson and Marie Osmond. At one point he is advised by Venus Williams about being the second in line.
His few opening numbers were genius as he has the voice and looks of Richard totally down to a tee. He looks the part and the 70s costume is totally on cue. As a Carpenters aficionado I was hoping he would continue with this thread, the classic tunes given a comic twist. However, there were annoying elements.
The best parts were when he was turning the lyrics around, such as: “Stormy nights and Thursdays make me feel despair.”
It’s self-revential and makes fun of Richard being the Carpenter without charisma.
It kicks off with classic tunes given a new twist. All of the lyrics are changed and the opening sequences are belly-achingly funny, as Richard obviously doesn’t know what to do with himself and is living in the shadow of a more charismatic sibling.
It’s well known that Karen came into her own after she came out from behind the drums. However, Richard was the impresario. Matthew cranks this up and although I laughed a lot during the first 15 minutes I found the show a little irritating.
Richard Carpenter is Close to you is at Underbelly – the Wee Coo until August 27
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