I stumbled into FxP2 in Trouble out of an Edinburgh drizzle and initially thought to myself, oh well, another shower of rain, another comedy sketch show. Within minutes, the fresh faces and manic energy of this troop of five young performers had me in transports of delight. I had never heard of Abingdon 752 (shame on me), a company which emerged from Abingdon School in Oxfordshire eight years ago, and which has scored up considerable successes. Here, they need not worry. They are quite definitely not in trouble.
If one or two sketches didnt quite hit the mark - and believe me, they were very few in number - in true Pythonesque tradition there was always another one on the way. Even the best material never outstayed its welcome, a mark of true professionalism. From a spoof arts programme to a delicious politically incorrect vignette about a Big Issue seller, this troop graduated to a wonderful pastiche of Crimewatch called Pratwatch, a rugby match which veered off into gay monologues (see it, I really couldnt begin to describe it) and a camp cabaret finale which had the audience in stitches. And lets not forget Time Team trying to make history look - well, cool.
The show is written by Patrick Appleton, Paddy Gervers and Finlay Taylor (one may hazard a guess where the name FxP2 comes from...), three lads who have clearly studied comedy and have a natural talent and a bright future ahead of them. They are joined here by Joe Buckley and Kate Shugman, and all five are to be congratulated on creating such a hilarious fifty-five minutes of fast, wonderful, anarchic, lunatic comedy. Id swap the tickets for ten late-night stand-ups just to see them again. I went back out into the Edinburgh rain wanting more and with a smile on my face.
Just one question. Do they put something in the water at Abingdon School to produce talent like this? Quite simply, I loved it. Oh, and a great poster too, guys.
