Review by Brandon Taylor

The Men are back, and in full form.

Who are they? A black-clothed, hat-wearing male choir group composed of those from all walks of life. What do they do?  Gather to produce songful musings on just what it is to be a man. What have they done? Provided equal parts laughter and enlightenment to audiences across Australia, quite regularly (as is the manly way) and to great acclaim (which is the manly hope) over the past decade.

How have they done it? With the striking contrast of Gregorian harmony and slapstick comedy. Think of the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail – the one where the monks proceed through town, chanting and bashing their heads with thick stone tablets after each phrase. So do The Men of the West, in dutiful homage to their own manliness, sing – hitting themselves over the head with the absurdities of manhood after each arresting strain.

The quality of singing and acting is quite adept – these guys sound good! The laughs come rolling out from a fully-engaged audience, and the use of power tools is entirely appropriate. There is much else that can be said, but the most functional thing to say at this point is that the show is well-worth watching.

A final note: This group, now known as the Men of the West, performed its previous feats under a different name – The Spooky Men of the West. Due to extenuatingly manly circumstances, they have been reborn, complete with boots and facial hair.

When: 6th – 12th February 2017 | 6:30pm

Where: Circus Theatre | Fringe Central | PERTH

Tickets: $6 – $19

Info: Duration 50 minutes | Suitable all ages | WA Artist

Link: https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/event/the_men_an_unexpected_journey/41f90fd6-6209-4fdb-a249-29b100d9901b/