Duo playing it for laughs with keyboard comedy (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Duo playing it for laughs with keyboard comedy

9:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in News By Emma Clayton

With four hands on 88 piano keys, Worbey And Farrell are on a mission to deliver music recitals with a twist.

The comedy music duo have developed a mesmerising, acrobatic style of performing, with their ‘choreography of the hands’ projected on to a video screen to accompany their satirical songs.

The pair – Steven Worbey and Kevin Farrell – have performed around the world, even entertaining Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney at his 89th birthday concert.

Steven and Kevin studied together at the Royal College of Music. Following an ‘improvised and slightly drunk’ evening at the piano, they formed a piano-comedy double act.

“It just clicked – the humour, synchronisation, the improvised sense of fun. We discovered that we played the piano together in a way that had never been played before,” says Steven.

Their first gig, at The Royal Opera House, led to a flood of offers. Their mix of quickfire comedy, cabaret and musical virtuosity has gained them a dedicated following, “from Papa New Guinea to Berwick-upon-Tweed”, according to their press blurb.

With a repertoire that covers classical music, film and musical scores and pop, the duo’s speedy finger-work is said to leave audiences awestruck. They were a hit at last year’s Edinburgh Festival and are coming to Otley on a UK tour.

Both pianists developed an ear for music at an early age.

“Kevin’s grandma used to regularly play a piece then one day he just sat at the piano and played it. Everyone thought his grandma was secretly giving him lessons, which wasn’t the case,” says Steven. “Piano lessons are vital through. There comes a time when technique and discipline are important.”

So where did the idea of four hands on one piano come from?

“After graduating we met up once or twice a year, then one afternoon we accidentally locked ourselves in Steven’s flat and ended up drinking wine, sat at the piano, and discovered we had a similar style, improvised well and made each other laugh,” says Kevin.

Steven says the act is difficult to categorise: “We’ve been likened to Victor Borge and, much as we adore his work, he never really played pieces in full or even for more than a minute. We like to think we’re an original act.”

He adds: “Playing the piano is generally solitary. Our act is all about friendship. We’d hate to patronise an audience by having a wind machine while playing a dumbed-down version of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. They get the real deal with us, but presented more casually.”

The duo list Vladimir Horowitz, Amy Winehouse, Freddie Mercury, Rufus Wainwright and Lady Gaga among their musical influences, and Peter Kay and Laurel and Hardy among their favourite comics.

“There must be passion and power in a performance,” says Steven.

* Worbey and Farrell are at Otley Courthouse on Friday, March 2. For tickets ring (01943) 467466.