4 Poofs, a Piano and copious costumes delight

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YOU WOULD have thought in the midst of a severe winter weather warning was not the best time for camping, but the 4 Poofs and a Piano proved that wrong at Bromsgrove's Artrix.

From the moment Dave, David, Ian and Stephen opened their set with their version of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 the audience were captivated.

What followed was a fantastic stage show that had everything - spoof songs, dance routines, musical instrument playing and, as you would expect, plenty of innuendo and double entendre.

And with the number of costume changes in this two-hour extravaganza going well into double figures, it could have been called 4 Poofs, a Piano and a very big wardrobe. Even the piano was done out in fake red leopard skin.

Among the songs was one about the different celebrities the quartet had met over the years and one about how they were axed from the Friday Night with Jonathan Ross show.

Highlights included the Perfect Pathos Pop Song, which mocked boy band ballads, a cleverly choreographed Swan Lake ballet routine and a medley from the musicals which ridiculed reality TV shows.

That was introduced with the line: 'Do you like musicals? We do. We're four gay men, so it's the law.'

The foursome went further into ridiculing reality TV shows in the second half when they held their own talent show, involving a hysterical hip hop routine performed by Dave.

And it was in the second half when the four really showed their versatility, opening that part with Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, which showcased their vocal range and more great harmonies that were prevalent throughout.

There were also great spoofs of classical music - Ave Maria - and opera - Nessun Dorma.

But the best parts of the second half, and arguably the show, were the Banghra dance routine and David, aided by audience suggestions, composing a love song for Bromsgrove.

In this superb stage show, there were 4 Poofs, a Piano and a lot more besides.