Well thanks very much Theatreview, "he handles the audience like a pro.." so he does my boyfriend.
Original Review
Dunedin Fringe 2012
GUSH: Love and Other Filthy Habits
with Penny Ashton and Matthew Harvey
at Fortune Theatre Studio, Dunedin
Until 23 Mar 2012
[1 hr]
Reviewed by Patrick Davies, 23 Mar 2012
A frequent visitor to Dunners, Penny Ashton always raises a good crowd and this was the case again last night in the Fortune Studio. A lot of repeat offenders wrangled their kin and friends to come and enjoy the titillating temptress who is never afraid to let rip on sex, love and boobs.
In Gush she has teamed up with her boyfriend Matthew Harvey to present an evening of poetry, song and fun. In this Fringe it is good to see a comedy show that has a bit of difference from the mainstream stand-up formats on offer. (No doubt there should be a forum on it: the place of stand up in Fringe festivals. Innovation? Experimentation? I don't think so.)
Anyhoo, resplendent in their finest nunnery, Ashton and Harvey take the stage to start a slide into the heavenly delights of love and the serious sins in our minds – well, their minds, the show's about them really. This is Harvey's first overseas Fringe and he handles the audience like a pro. His poetry is seemingly simple in construction but is laced with pun, metaphor and wildly hilarious observations about the world, him and his love: Penny.
Penny is at the top of her game. She easily slides in and around the audience poking a well placed nod at everything from the ones who are left behind to those c**nts who still think size matters. She plays us like a drunken slapper and we love it. Her patter is so sweet she takes us on her journey and before you know it we are surrounded by rhymes as we realise we're into another poem.
I have never heard so many geographical locations used as an aphrodisiac! This is not to say there are no still moments; her poem ‘Awesome' is a real spine-tingler that lets us into her heart.
Interspersed with their ol' ukuleles, a banjo and a guest instrument, the songs are just as whacky and funny, and both are in fine voice. While the topics range from our filthy habits and things Ashton and Harvey hate, they are always well constructed and beautifully performed poems that make us laugh and think about it at the same time.
The two highlights are each performer's love poems about the other: quite marvellous. The joy these two are having with each other spills onto the stage and gushes all over the audience.
If you like your comedy a little different, a little risqu̩ and always fun, then this is a fabulous show to grab a group together for. Have a few bubbles and laugh your arse off, especially at the finale (Matthew Рthat was very courageous and brilliant)! Go see it.
_______________________________
