Edinburgh Fringe Review: Flo and Joan's Alive On Stage is packed with toe-tapping and side-splitting melodies

IT’S not difficult to see why audiences are flocking to see Flo and Joan : Alive On Stage.

Their wonderful mix of harmonies and humour meant there was a packed crowd squeezed into the Pleasance Cabaret bar for their Monday afternoon show, and they’ve had to add extra dates.

The in-demand duo, real names Nicola and Rosie Dempsey, introduce themselves in a fine opening ditty revealing exactly who is and isn’t welcome at the show with easy targets (Piers Morgan, people wearing crocs) all politely (ish) shown the door.

The song is the duo starting as they mean to go on. This isn’t just a show packed with constant laughs, but also a bit of dig.

While there’s a sweet song celebrating factory worker Carol, the queen of cracker packing, there’s also ‘Lady Crisps’ to take aim at sexism.

And interspersed with their set are brief interludes where they ‘respond’ to some of the vile social media messages they received – most likely in the wake of them gaining national exposure in a building society advert.

A sex robot tango and a wedding song packed with divorce statistics are also highlights, as well as the ultimate riposte to another offensive Facebook correspondence in a song for the sender’s two daughters about growing up as a woman.

As sisters, they’re a natural double act and fuse effortlessly together as Flo and Joan in both musical and comedic terms.

And, crucially, they’re equally good at conveying silliness as they are poignancy.

The grand finale, making full use of the venue’s lighting and apparently large supply of recorders is the last treat in a show that flies by.

Verdict: ★★★★★

Flo and Joan’s show is a marvellous mix of melodies that are both toe-tapping and side-splitting. Definitely one to catch before the end of the festival.

Flo & Joan’s Alive On Stage is being performed at the Fringe until 26^th August and will be followed by a UK tour starting on 19^th September. For more info visit floandjoan.com

Read our interview with Nicola & Rosie: