LUCIDMEDIA

On Sunday night I had the chance to see the Nefarious Duo themselves perform at the Art Center in Downtown London. 

They're sly, they're witty, they're naughty, they're definitely nefarious, they are the Black Roses; two Canadian girls spreading love and song to drunkards and weary theatre goers. The duo, having played clubs, bars, and various festivals, now take their show to the theatre and showcase their unique brand of comedy to audiences who are attentive and appreciative. It is almost involuntary that when you walk out from their show one song or a catch-phrase will be twirling in your head and causing you to giggle all night long. 

The Black Roses are Hayley Gratto and Chelesa P Manders, but as they'll tell you in the show, there are several other members that need introductions; mini conga, petite guitar, and metronome are just some of the instruments that the duo incorporates to deliver their wild brand of humor. If you are familiar with Tenacious D then The Black Roses won't come as too much of a surprise. Their deal is a little different though, instead of paying odes to classic rock and roll through folk, the roses muse on such topics as Polygamy and Fag Hags, more like the Arrogant Worms I suppose. The humor comes lavishly and thoughtfully too. With their dead pan delivery it is hard not to crack a smile when they start drinking from their juice boxes and give the audience a brief history of themselves. Nothing is predictable, everything is enjoyable. 

The show truly needs to be seen to appreciate the delivery of the Roses. The visual aides to their songs also bring a new sensation to their show. With pictures such as BC Mountains, famous Canadian landmarks, and beavers, the show becomes a dialogue of popular culture and politics, fused with innocent comedy and nefarious naughtiness; it won't just keep you in your seat, it'll have you smiling the whole way back home.