We’ve never had anything reviewed.  Not even an album.  And all of a sudden we were in Edinburgh having our shows critiqued.  Which is sometimes a problem when people are critiquing your show before you’ve quite figured it out.

Other comedians tell you not to listen to reviews, and you assume they’re only telling you this because they’ve had bad reviews.  Having now read quite a few reviews of our show and other shows, you begin to realise that it’s not best to fully rely on reviews, because at the end of the day, comedy is very subjective, and you can’t base everything on one person’s opinion.  Especially when they’re judging something which is always different based on the atmosphere the comedian and that night’s audience create.

We chose to read reviews and take them with a pinch of salt.  We got some bad reviews which came from early on in the run, which frustratingly addressed things we had already sorted out by the time the reviews were published.  We also got some good reviews which came later on in the run, which stood testament to the fact that we’d ironed out the kinks.

Apparently if you get a bad review and a good review, you only ever mention the good review.  Shhh... there was never a bad review... never...

So in light of adhering to the standard industry rules, here are extracts from our reviews.  We’ve even included some comments left on our Facebook page and Twitter, because at the end of the day, the members of the public count far more than reviewers.  Fair enough, you can’t quote them on posters, but you can post them in blogs...

The Brothers Streep – Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2010 Reviews

‘A South African duo The Brothers Street bring a new style and fresh ideas to the now very popular music/comedy shows at The Fringe. Their show was in a small overly hot room at Gilded Balloon and their show had the audience in stitches and at one point swaying. They won over the crowd and one thing was certain The Brother’s Streep are fast becoming a 2010 fringe favourite...

...This was a fringe debut from a duo who really knew how much it meant to them to be able to perform at the Fringe festival. They gave the show their all with great songs and beautiful banter these guys really know how to make an impression. The Brothers Streep are a music comedy duo like no other!’
****, Nige, The New Current – click here to read more

‘It seems South Africa is not so different to the UK after all - we are equally violently opposed to people with too many items being in the express queue at Tesco's. The Brothers Streep will charm your socks off with their gentle humour through songs that cover subjects as diverse as Disney princesses and trampolines (appealingly entitled 'No Springs Attached'). There is also cultural education - we learn about the South African answer to Yazoo, the Loch Ness Monster and how vuvuzelas are the new apartheid. The songs often get chuckles rather than out-and-out laughs, but the warm atmosphere these two create make this a thoroughly enjoyable hour - and you come out with something to sing at those pesky inappropriate queuers.’
***, Tom Campion, ThreeWeeks

‘South African music duo Dylan Hichens and Simon van Wyk aren’t actually brothers, nor are either of their surnames Streep.  False advertising aside, the singer-songwriters enjoy a solid first foray to the Fringe with this selection of tracks from their recent album, Suitable For The Whole Family...

...The affectionate tribute closes their Edinburgh set in rousing fashion...’
***, Damon Smith, Metro

'Guys, you need to make sure you head back over this way soon and do some gigs in the South East of England! There's a comedy festival in Brighton in October and quite a few nice chilled out venues along the coast... just so you know! You were without a doubt one of the highlights of Edinburgh for us and a refreshing genuinely feel-good change to everything else around so BIG thanks for that! I keep singing your songs (badly) but, hey, quite a few more people know who you are because of that so it's not all bad and they've said they're keen to check you out next time you're in the country so yay! Thanks again and the best of luck with the rise of The Brothers Streep. Huzzah! x'
Sandy East (from Facebook)

'@brightfest I highly recommend @brothersstreep they are funny,  sweet ,warm and smart , u can't say that about many acts!'
@djclynshaw (from Twitter)

'Me and John thought you were awesome- you gave us our own private perfomance!! Love you guys'
Victoria Bower (from Facebook)

Lastly, H Anthony Hildebrand had the idea of including positive points from negative reviews, so, here are some genuinely positive remarks which have been taken from bad reviews, which allude to the rest of the review being positive, even though it wasn’t.  We’re definitely putting these quotes on our next posters, just to upset the reviewers involved...

'Engaging'
Steve Bennet, Chortle

'They play all the right notes'
Murray Robertson, The List