Low Down

Review

In Upstairs at The Copa Bar, Oxford -  a 'put-together venue' run by Edinburgh Festival Company Sweet Ents, this was a function room but nevertheles,s with good lighting sound equipment and comfy chairs, it did it's job.

The two began with an inspired piece of melodrama; a couple stand smoking from cigarette holders, eyes never meeting; speaking in clipped english they dream of being able to say words like 'Bottom', but they cannot for they live in a age of correctness.

The audience soon warmed to this and the piece took off with some lively sketches involving demonstrations of the brain functions by unnerving german doctors, west country bird fanciers, and a hairdresser obsessed with bald men...

Endings of any kind of sketch baffle many writers, actors and directors and there is never a right answer to 'how do we end the sketch?' - Johnny, Jackie and Their Director opted for a brave casual style; breaking out of character, talking to the audience, and diving back in a new sketch with no blackout, and often no music. Although not my choice, they both have charm so carried this off.

Toward the end, the sketches were solid and the re-occurance of characters was a nice touch; despite the noise level from the downstairs bar becoming louder and louder, the pair carried on regardless.

The penultimate  sketch delivered great laughs; two visitors of a museum looking at 'an audience captured in 2010 and now preserved' – this was particularly clever in writing and shone a literal light on the audience.

This raucous show delivered some excellent writing and wit in fine style. On occasion a few awkward moments were glossed over; this I may say be due to the first performances of this new production and will only get tighter as the run continues.

A duo to watch out for. They will be at The Laughing Horse, Quadrant, April 30^th and May 1^st, 11.45pm for The Brighton Fringe

Reviewed by JS 9th April 2010

Website :

 http://www.teakshow.co.uk