John-Luke Roberts @ Assembly George Square

A gloriously ludicrous show title is given some context (relatively speaking) when John-Luke Roberts, all blue moustache and lurid multi-coloured apparel, performs said title by way of introducing his show. It’s a cover of M.I.A.’s Paper Planes – "Perform Some Comedy" is substituted for the original line “Take Your Money” – an apt synonym perhaps, but in the subsequent hour Roberts proves worth every penny. He’s come with a mission you see, determined to advocate the overwhelming importance of sheer nonsense/absurdity so humanity might be saved from its own more toxic brands of idiocy.

The manifesto is personified primarily in the form of dozens of Spice Girls who didn’t quite inveigle their way into our consciousness like the ones we’ve heard about. Thus, we are introduced to Military Spice and Mels D-Z, although the star turn is Facts About The Romans Spice’ pathos-inducing interactions with Facts About Facts About The Romans Spice - Roberts skilfully imbuing both with very distinctive characteristics, before introducing Facts About Facts About Facts About The Romans Spice if we weren’t already aware we were way, way down the rabbit hole. Which, with Roberts’ majestic performance throughout, is precisely where we want to be.
 

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John-Luke Roberts: All I Want To Do Is [FX: GUNSHOTS] With A [FX: GUN RELOADING] And A [FX: CASH REGISTER] And Perform Some Comedy!, Assembly George Square (Studio Five), 1-27 Aug (not 15), 5.30pm, £7-10

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