Meet Frankie Monroe: the gravel-voiced, ghoulishly painted master of ceremonies at The Misty Moon, a working men’s club in Rotherham that just so happens to be a portal to hell. Brought to life by BBC New Comedy Award-winner Joe Kent-Walters, Frankie is an old-school end-of-the-pier act whose deal with the devil keeps the club’s lights on – even as demonic forces skulk in the shadows. Part seedy vaudevillian and part charming rogue, Frankie welcomes you into his surreal world of stolen wallets, naff magic tricks, and bananas jingles (like the unforgettable ode to “Frankie’s special trowel”).
A big daft love letter to variety entertainment, this show is “Phoenix Nights meets The Mighty Boosh,” blending bawdy cabaret antics with supernatural silliness. Frankie shares the stage with a host of lurid characters, from monster-prosthetic-wearing nephew Brandy to a roustabout Johnny Cash wannabe, navigating decades-old pacts and the club’s mysterious “committee” who’ve come to collect their dues. Between gravelly catchphrases of “good boy!” and the no-holds-barred shenanigans, Frankie’s on a mission to save his beloved Misty Moon from eternal damnation – one hilariously hellish performance at a time.
In the hands of Kent-Walters, Frankie’s unhinged energy and knockabout comedic sensibility create a night of infernal fun – complete with skill-free ventriloquism, hoary magic routines, and a sentimental finale that makes you wonder if the underworld’s not all bad after all. It’s a scorching spectacle of mayhem, mischief, and devilish charm, offering an outrageous glimpse into a warped universe where boozy banter and brimstone collide. If you like your comedy deliciously demented and your variety turned up to eleven, Frankie Monroe is your new infernal entertainer.
