Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Out of the Blue

 
Charlotte Ivers Review by Charlotte Ivers 5 Published: 10 Aug 2014 Assembly George Square Theatre Show Dates: 31 Jul 2014-25 Aug 2014

Out of the Blue, Oxford’s all male a capella group, have many things to offer. Their show is polished, musically assured and visually impressive. There are moments of comedy, moments that are genuinely moving and moments where twenty grown men from one of the UK’s most prestigious universities bound around the stage pretending to be monkeys.

The choreography is excellent: dad dancing transformed into an art form.

But while those monkey impressions will be permanently and inescapably etched into the minds of all those who witness them, what stands out most about this show is how much fun everybody – both onstage and in the audience – seems to be having. The boys’ enthusiasm for what they are doing – and they must be enthusiastic to have found the time to perfect such complex routines – is infectious, and the atmosphere in the room is electric.

Musically, the set is impressive. The group’s voices blend well and the harmonies are complex and often highly inventive. Song choices vary from Moulin Rouge to Amazing Grace, with Tight Fit and the Human League getting a look in along the way. The choreography is equally excellent: dad dancing transformed into an art form.

Despite being part of one of the most successful and well established shows at the Fringe, these boys do not take themselves too seriously. Which is lucky given that they are essentially a group of grown men dancing around with no shoes on, singing their way through the musical works of Shakira. It takes a special kind of self-confidence to make that work and Out of the Blue manage it masterfully.

Get down to the box office and book yourself a ticket. If you come out smiling, you can thank me later. If you don’t come out smiling, I’m afraid there is no hope for you.

Related to this article:

Location:

Performances

The Blurb:

Embarking on their 11th run at the Fringe, Out of the Blue will captivate you with their unbeatable mixture of vibrant vocals, outrageously unprofessional choreography and often unintentional comedy. Appearing in the 2011 live finals of Britain’s Got Talent, the 15 floppy-haired Oxford undergraduates were crowned Voice Festival UK champions this year, and their relentless energy has left audiences beaming far and wide. 'If you don’t enjoy yourself you're officially the curmudgeon of the millennium' (Scotsman). Out of the Blue is proud that their show is supporting Helen and Douglas House, the world's first children's hospice.