Take two of Cambridge’s Footlights, give them guitars, throw them in front of a crowd full of people and watch the magic happen. It’s what the guys behind I am, I am have done and it’s worked out pretty well for them.
The premise is simple enough - musical comedy, accompanied by guitars and the occasional dance, all delivered by fairly stereotypical public schoolboys from Cambridge itself. It works exceedingly well and there wasn’t a heckler in sight; that in itself is, quite simply, testament to these lads’ ability to keep their audience on-side. Evidence of this came in an accidental World Wars joke during an improvised number. What might have been met by cries of horror got instead a friendly guffaw from the girl who the joke was aimed at (followed quickly by a request that reviewers ignored it... sorry).
Highlights include that particular improvised number and the opening dance routine which set the mood for the evening. Where they particularly succeed is in their little asides - whether they’re rehearsed or not, I have no idea - that fill in between numbers, or even between lines of songs to take social awkwardness to its next level. It’s a charming and thoroughly enjoyable take on musical comedy, if nothing new.
There is a comfortable chemistry between the hosts and their songs flit between adorable and absolutely hilarious, between two lines long and five minutes of comedic joy. The combination of talents isn’t groundbreaking and their music and singing isn’t exceptional in quality, but the way it’s pulled together makes for a hilarious hour of entertainment that cannot fail to make you grin - if you’re not too busy laughing, that is.
