Annie McGrath and Jack Barry are twins. They might not look it, as they have completely different parents, but they are. If you’re really lucky, they might just show you their special twin sense. This is not the first Fringe for this debut double act. Both were previously pivotal members of The Leeds Tealights, the university sketch group. Yet this show is completely different from their original style, showing that Barry and McGrath are both flexible comedy performers. ‘Twins’ is weirdly amusing; as the pair stepped out on stage modelling pairs of hideous Crocs, I had no clue what to expect.
This double act is unique in the sense that McGrath and Barry’s style is very deadpan and their characters monotone. This was somewhat of an acquired taste and their low-energy delivery was contrasted with action - Barry at one point even attempted flying through the crowd, luckily not injuring one poor girl in the front row. The ‘twins’ showcase sketches, with some flashbacks thrown into the mix. Right from the start they prove that they also have the potential to be consummate character comedians as well as stand-ups. Being a fan of the Tealights, I had originally imagined seeing the real McGrath and Barry introduce each sketch and not the slightly eerie twins who stood in front of me.
It is clear that McGrath and Barry are both talented comedians, but their free show isn’t quite five stars just yet. Twins had an almost full house and, despite being a little shafted by some loud building works in the background, they put on a good performance. Their advertisement sketch had the audience chuckling for minutes on end. These two are clearly serious about comedy. I’d jump on the Twins bandwagon now if I were you, as it’s clear that in the not too distant future these two will be charging for tickets to sell out shows.
