‘Living Spit; the Fabulous Bacon Boys’ Merchants Suite Tuesday 7th June, review

Living Spit are Stu Mcloughlin, a man with an air of Cleese about him, and Howard Coggins, an earthier, cuddlier type. They have a unique take on history and culture which they express in music and rolling rhyme. Coggins plays the Bacon Brothers, builders Chris P, Kevin, and Francis; Mcloughlin plays Wanda the Building Inspector, aka the Wolf, in this hilarious interpretation of ‘The Three Little Pigs’. The action is set in ‘Little-Muckle-On-The-Wold’, past and present, and the unfolding tale is accompanied by banjo, ukulele, bangs and whistles. There’s a nod to the difficulties of poetic form, and the difficulties of finding acceptable rhymes for ‘inspection’. There’s an innocent innuendo that never quite crosses a chalk line; they’re loveable and ironic. As a double act they’re up there with the best of them with their choreography and chemistry, split second timing, switching of parts, and insights in to human nature. They’re bringing ‘Frankenstein’ to Salisbury Playhouse in November. Don’t miss it.

Gail Foster