With so much improvised comedy at the Fringe nowadays it’s difficult to know what to see. The unique element of this show is its structure as a live radio play. Six stereotypical English gentlemen from the early twentieth century, they tell their tale through voice-play and old-fashioned microphones with suggestions from the audience. A table of random items are behind them utilized for various sound effects - a crisp packet suggests a crackling fire - and a pianist underscores the performance with appropriate tinkling.
The play from our particular performance was undoubtedly amusing but much of the humour derived from mistakes. The gentlemen seemed to be intentionally trying to trip each other up and derail the play. This made for some funny mishaps, rather than intelligent use of the audience’s ideas which weren’t fully mined for their comic potential. At one point the comedy did descend to a crude fart joke - amusing but facile.
Still, there was good banter between the quick-minded performers, who eventually came together as a team to deliver some characterful voice work with laughs aplenty. It may have been convoluted and didn’t always make sense but that’s all part of the fun - isn’t it?
