Firm Hand Shake Presents: The Funny Freak Show

It's rare that I sit waiting for a show to commence; staring at two bottles of whipped cream, awaiting the arrival of a feme flambe, an unqualified doctor and an inglorious ingrishman… I knew at that very moment I was in for a unique experience.

The Funny Freak Show is a cabaret show like no other; serving up a unique yet potent concoction of skits, sketches and comedy goodness giving me the full range of 'Ahs,' ' huhs' and 'woahs.' Our compare Kristy Munroe opened the show with a thoroughly enjoyable routine. Her variety and audience interaction was fantastic throughout keeping the audience warmer than the Sahara desert during a heat wave. Clearly showing for pedigree from an array of comedic experience including the Edinburgh fringe festival. Following Munroe with an organised wave of applauses were as she calls them 'her boys'.

Starting with the sketch Perverts and yes, the whipped cream was involved with a hilarious dance and singing routine which created a wave of excitement across the audience. I'm not sure Simon Cowell would have put them through to the next round. But a fantastic start to the show.

Alan Scotty Smith was next to emerge as an introverted guitar player sharing his views on our X Factor culture for musicians, and proceeded to rip apart some Bruno Mars songs and in a Dr.Frankinstien manner resembling them in true comic fashion.

The fabulous Miss Baileys was next up, and yes before you ask she was named after the drink. She brought the paranormal world of voodoo to our doorsteps. She gave some insightful readings indicating a woman with a glass of coke in her hand about to take a sip of said coke and that a girl sat on the front row floor had arrived late. She was a delight and her mock performance as a fortune teller was hilarious and even finished with some classic dance lessons to a lucky member of our audience.

Doctor Travis was last to the stage joined by the erm, not so glamorous yet hilarious assistant Mr.Egor Brown. The good doctor and his assistant performed a range of tricks working so hard they even took the shirt of his back, seriously they left Mr.Travis gasping for air as he exited the stage. Egor Brown had me in stitches throughout the routine and real credit must be given to him played by Mike Brown. A real highlight of the show from a performer who was solid throughout.

In the words of Kristy Munroe it all 'started with a tweet' and ended as a chaotic cataclysm of a amusement making for a fantastically funny freak show, there's some words I never thought I'd be writing. The Crumbling Cookie an intimate venue made for a great atmosphere and I look forward to seeing more from Firm Hand Shake Presents.

Written By Rhien Shephard

Photography by Daniel McDonagh Photography (http://www.facebook.com/DanielMcDonaghPhotography)