Two Hearts review: A high-voltage hour of ear worms
Edinburgh Fringe
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Edinburgh Fringe 〰️
by Zoe Paskett
Two Hearts have a theory. All those famous musical couples who couldn’t make it work split up because they made one major creative error: they sang sincere love songs to each other. Well, recently married musical comedy duo Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore aren’t making that mistake. They might love each other but they will certainly not be getting vulnerable tonight.
Til Death Do Us Hearts is the wedding after-party for the audience, and while it’s unfortunate (rude) that we were not invited to witness fellow Kiwi comedian Guy Montgomery’s famous wedding k-hole, instead we are treated to an abundance of gut-busting ear worms.
Since their 2022 show We’re Pregnant and the Baby is Music was one of my ultimate number one top shows of the year, I’ve been dying for a new Two Hearts show. Not only are they super accomplished musicians, their comedy songwriting ability is second to none. In their new show, all genres are covered, from country music to dance music to Europop to emotionally revealing ballads, with whip smart lyrics about their married, blissfully monogamous life.
Laura is loath to give up her slut era and Joseph is toxic now that he’s a husband. Laura is making her way through the leftover wine from the wedding (and the leftover nos) and Joseph is trying to fit in his solo song about straight pride (feat. celebrity guest). Including dance breaks, piss breaks and necessary breaks to avoid burnout, it’s a high-voltage hour.
As ever, Two Hearts deliver a masterclass in musical comedy that will have you and your friends belting out the final song’s chorus on repeat in the Courtyard when you leave. (And probably for days after.)
Two Hearts: Til Death Do Us Hearts is at Pleasance Courtyard (Pleasance Two) at 23:00. Tickets here
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