The Black Sheep are Andrew Jones and Ciaran Murtagh, and this is their self-titled sketch show. It is full of energy, silliness, songs and a cast of thousands which fans of the genre will enjoy.
As in their other show in the Fringe, Professor Bumms Story Machine, their ability play off each other and to get the audience on side is evident. Their tea break halfway is a nice touch, and the opening gambit of trying to divide the audience in two also works well. There are moments of 5 star brilliance, like the Wheres Jesus? sketch and Freddy Kruegers attempt to be a childrens presenter.
At times though you wonder if they are trying to fit too much in. The frenetic costume changes seem at times unnecessary. And the desire to fit in so many sketches means that some fantastic characters like the overbearing advertising executive are left behind all too quickly, while others fall a bit flat. In last years Fringe they presented a comedy play, and it may be their evidently strong skills in writing and creating would shine all the more if the characters were allowed space to develop beyond the confines of a sketch.
