The padded walls of the Toff were hardly enough to contain the larger than life personas of Mikelangelo & the Black Sea Gentlemen, an unspeakably talented and charismatic band of musicians whose theatrics had the rather dapper looking audience in peels of laughter all throughout the show.

These masters of a thousand instruments, and ‘a thousand faces, but mostly just one’, sure know how to spin a fine yarn, putting a most romantic angle on their gypsy fuelled sordid tales of death, twisted love and treachery.

Mikelangelo himself is a wild wind of energy, impossible to ignore… and – œnor would you want to! A smooth baritone mixed with flawless displays of wit makes for a peerlessly captivating performance, utilising every inch of the Toff’s packed floor.

No man, table, wine glass or breast-feeding mother and child were safe during crowd favourite A Formidable Marinade, Mikelangelo giving the words, intimate performance, a whole new meaning for audience members, and later on emerging for an encore sporting an intriguing pair of old timey swim trunks and proceeding to race around the place eventually jumping atop a ledge for a double act of singing and balancing; a coiffured, well groomed and oh-so-charming delinquent.

As for the Black Sea Gentleman, consisting of Rufino, Little Ivan, The Great Muldavio and Guido Libido, not for a moment do they fade into a supporting act, lending their souls to the stage, bringing to life stories of adventure and woe, each with a style so distinctive they could easily lead the show.

Particularly memorable were Rufino’s sorry ode The Struggle to be Human, which had all feeling pity for the usually cheesy grinned and moustachioed one, and the maniac eyed Guido Libido’s chilling tune that left all hairs on end and wafted a nervous feeling through the room.

Mikelangelo & the Black Sea Gentleman are a truly one of a kind breed, offering an unsurpassable performance, laced with hilarious mid-song detours, smashed glasses and indisposable tips on male grooming, amidst beautifully crafted songs rich in such lyrical gems such as ‘we’re all just skeletons, reclining on a beach of flesh, dancing in a sea of organs’ delivered with absolute passion and enthusiasm.

A unique experience entirely worth selling your soul for the privilege of two hours in the presence of this band of merry misfits.