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Foil, Arms and Hog: Loch'd

 
Joanna Alpern Review by Joanna Alpern 3 Published: 23 Aug 2014 Underbelly, Cowgate Show Dates: 31 Jul 2014-24 Aug 2014

Foil, Arms and Hog are a group of stylish Irish lads with an old-school, vintage look. Foil and Arms wear smart trousers and waistcoats while Hog dons a costume like a spin-off of the other two, with a comedy bowtie attached to his puffed up, short-sleeved shirt. Their comedy is slick and traditional, with just touches of the bizarre to match.

Comedy is in good hands with this mischievous trio.

One of their first gags has us simulating an audience at a Mexican comedy night.

Sketches range from an inventive take on how mime artists might fight one another, to a sexually repressed Christian rock group, to what can only be described as a mock-Japanese fight film and a sketch which takes the mickey out of pretentious absurdist theatre companies. All are blended together with charm and delightful musical interludes. Sometimes the sketches run the risk of becoming slightly repetitive, or of going on for a little bit too long, for instance the sketch about forced alcoholism in an Irish family. However, the ideas on the whole are impressive.

Foil and Arms are engaging performers, but their companion Hog has been blessed with a face made for comedy. Some of the most amusing moments of the show emerge when he says nothing, but simply stands making funny faces at us. When he picks one individual audience member to bestow his facial comedy upon, they certainly are entertained. Hog has an amazing ability to transform from man to comic beast and back again, flaunting a low, grovelling, guttural laugh that is nothing short of infectious. Comedy is consequently in good hands with this mischievous trio.

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Irish comedy, potato, potato, potato, potato, potato, potato. You racist. Ireland's top comedy trio have sold out the Edinburgh Fringe for five consecutive years and recently completed a world tour of festivals including Chicago, San Francisco and Adelaide, where they won a Fringe Comedy Award. Their unique style of 'fast-paced improv-infused sketches' (SquirrelComedy.com) developed on the stand-up circuit has won them wide audience and critical acclaim. 'An effervescent hour of fast-paced gags, fizzing with energy, invention and great lines' (Chortle.co.uk). 'It's original, well-written and really, really funny' (Kevin Bridges). ***** (Entertainment.ie). ***** (StageWon.co.uk).