With 45 minutes to complete as many sketches as they can, Arran Kemp and Conor Mather (aka. The Milky Pigeons) are Running Out of Time! With quick-fire quips, the pair tousle their way through sketches old and new, wrapping up bitesize, short-form comedy in an Edinburgh Fringe-sized package.
Running Out of Time! will truly brighten your day
Addressed directly to the audience, the show is packed with energy from start to finish. They play with structure and form, constantly breaking the fourth wall by constructing and correcting the sketches as they go. Some even go wrong (intentionally) and the duo bicker between themselves as to how to keep the audience engaged. At times, this push and pull slightly distracts from the thrust of the show—it is a trope that many comedy duos rely on, but can sometimes result in blocking the performers (disobeying the golden ‘yes, and’ rule). Nevertheless, the caricature personas created by Kemp and Mather are ripe for laughs. The ambitious Kemp tries to steer the show, leaving Mather’s dopey character in the lurch feeling rather sorry for himself. This dynamic, a firm favourite in the comedy world, is brought to life with vim and vigour, showcasing Kemp and Mather’s aptitude for live performance.
The sketches themselves are dripping in irony, made even more hysterical when the pair reveal their ‘deep’ hidden meaning. Topics range from comedy classics to far wackier Milky Pigeon signatures which cleverly plays with the audience’s expectations. Some of the best moments arise in sketches that have less dialogue, especially when miming and interpretive dancing. Kemp and Mather are brilliant at physical comedy, using clowning techniques to sensitively respond to the audience’s energy. Always embracing sillyness, their urinal sketch left me in stitches.
Katie Tuson is an accomplished director, giving the show structure and momentum. Though the pace could improve even further by making transitions between the sketches snappier and shortening a couple of the longer scenes, the tongue-in-cheek, mad-cap style makes time fly and keeps the audience engaged.
We see a lot of stand up and sketch comedy at the Fringe that can often make ones eyes roll. What sets The Milky Pigeons apart is their authenticity in the face of the ever-increasing commercialisation of theatre that results in cringe-inducing performances. Wonderfully silly and charismatic, Running Out of Time! will truly brighten your day.
