I’m not sure who came up with Hot Rubber’s concept of combining the children’s table-top racing game Scaletrix with a stand up comedy variety show, but after watching the show in Gilded Balloon’s Patter House, I’m so glad they did. The format of the show is this: Hudson Hughes and Imogen Trusselle host four comedians, each pair performing a stand-up set before racing customised cars against one another on a hand-assembled Scaletrix track, with the two winners engaging in a final showdown.
Hot Rubber ensures that, for audience, cast and crew alike, there is never a dull moment
In terms of tech, Hot Rubber’s production value is off the charts. From the show’s live synth musicians, to the high-octane cgi opening montage and editable video-game graphics appearing live on screen behind the comedians and the track, the use of visual gags is comprehensive, and its video game and TV references are nostalgic are well-considered. The track, staying true to the Scaletrix format of the show, had clearly been hand-assembled, which added an air of rustic charm that amplified the show’s laid-back late-night atmosphere and prevented it from feeling over-polished, even if the set’s rudimentary structure made the comedians’ race cars liable to fly off, bump into one another or stick to the track - moments that eventually became a little repetitive when they were generally played out in the same way.
The line-up changes with each show, and tonight's included Luke Nixon, Jen Nolan, Alex Franklin and Mikey Bligh-Smith, with Nixon and Bligh-Smith paired for the concluding battle. Hughes and Trusselle's comedy was light on its feet even during the track’s technical difficulties. Nixon’s charming self-deprecation quickly got the audience on side, and Nolan’s observational comedy packed a punch. However, it was Franklin, armed with a powerpoint disparaging their rival, and Bligh-Smith dressed head-to-toe as Bart Simpson, who were best able to match Hot Rubber’s high energy and absurdity. The latter’s cast of zany characters - from the ghost of deceased Dickensian-style racer ‘Lappy’ to a clear parody of Top Gear’s The Stig - not only reinforced the excitement and wackiness of the show, but provided it with a structure that enable its more spontaneous moments to shine. Hot Rubber ensures that, for audience, cast and crew alike, there is never a dull moment.
