Madcap Alex Horne certainly makes a comedy gig swing. Aided by his slick musicians, the bearded bandleader rattled through party games, wordplay and a mini-musical featuring trumpeter Joe Auckland wearing a vacuum cleaner on his head. There was even a pop classic given a Pina Bausch-style dance makeover. Anything goes with The Horne Section.
This frivolously funny mash-up of music and mirth was a try-out for their Edinburgh Fringe return, so some ideas may not make the final cut. Asking drummer Ben Reynolds to circle his kit while playing a samba swiftly ran out of steam. But Horne is constantly creative and there were few truly bum notes.
Last night’s set also boasted special guests Jonny and the Baptists, whose current “Stop Ukip” tour upset the party’s deputy leader Paul Nuttall. The duo’s spot included some pithy teasing of Nigel Farage and a catchy ode to the German Chancellor: “We’ve come full circle, Angela Merkel.”
The Baptists played second fiddle, however, to Horne. In a week when a major comedy musical has announced its imminent closure the highlight was his deliciously daft song-cycle starring Henry Hoover. Could I Can’t Suck! be coming to a vacant Palladium?
Also May 26 (020 7478 0100, sohotheatre.com)
