Comedy review: Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden - Going Gaga, Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14), Edinburgh

By MARTIN GRAY
Published on 08/08/2012 11:46

Veteran comedy writer and performer Barry Cryer and songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ronnie Golden team up for an hour of original songs, anecdotes and gags. Going gaga? Hardly.

Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden - Going Gaga

Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14)

Star rating: * * *

Their opening number points out that they’ve been around forever and worked with everyone, which isn’t bragging, it’s simply fact. The reason they’ve worked with so many showbiz greats is that they’re brilliant at what they do.

Cryer is 77 and a national treasure, able to craft and tell a joke better than most. Fabulous Poodles founder Golden, meanwhile, is a guitar maestro whose voice encompasses rock growls, plaintive wails and everything in-between.

Together, they provide an endearing, amusing entertainment.

Golden’s finest moment comes with a story song sung in Spanish, and translated by Cryer. Cryer takes the lead on a touchingly funny tribute to his wife, Terry. And the audience joins in the I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue game of singing one song to the tune of another, resulting in The Dambusters colliding with The Laughing Policeman. Ha ha ha ha ha ha haaa indeed.

• Until 10 August. Today 5:30pm.