The Boy With Tape On His Face is Buster Keaton in Tim Burton’s dreams, stripy, edgy, wild eye hilarity. While it would be possible to tar him with the “prop comic” brush he is far better than that, a silent comedian that constructs a joke piece by piece in front of your eyes without uttering a word and still manages to surprise you with his (unspoken) punch lines.
Behind the tape and the searching eyes is a very inventive comic brain. The Boy builds a world where tape measures can be light sabres and people become tables while balloons become people, Michel Gondry’s version of stand-up. The Boy is so incredibly expressive in his silence making you appreciate that basics of human communication, pointing, nodding and wordless cajoling audience members into his service for the joy of a joke.
The Boy With Tape On His Face has to been seen to be believed and will leave you speechless.
BY JACK FRANKLIN
