I headed to Fantasia at Perth Town Hall on our hottest summer night yet and praised the FRINGE WORLD gods for the air con. My friend and I boldly took the seats front and centre. Having previously seen Josh Burton in Impromptunes, I was intrigued to see him in a sketch show, particularly one where he is performing with his brother! In this show, the Burton Brothers have a ten-year residency on the Vegas strip.

Tom and Josh Burton exhibited their impeccable comedic timing from the outset of the show, in a brilliantly funny opening number in which they showed off their vocal prowess. Vegas Residency parodies every aspect of the cultural phenomenon that is Las Vegas. As the Burton Brothers work to thwart the dastardly schemes of the crooked casino boss, the audience is ushered through every experience the strip offers—a wedding, magic shows, gambling, Elvis impersonators… I especially loved the soothsayers and their unique approach to fortune-telling. This show seamlessly weaves audience participation into the narrative and the Brothers respond to the varied offerings of the crowd with wit and ease.

The sketches get more and more ridiculous, as the Burton Brothers push each other closer and closer to the edge of sketch comedy and into improv. Moments when they break character and address the audience and each other only add to the hilarity. The comedic chemistry between these two makes this show a must-see.

If you’re a fan of musical sketch comedy and sibling banter, this is the show for you. The vocals are high quality, the narrative brilliantly ridiculous and the character work is second to none.