#Sketchtember

In a town where comedy nights are prolific it’s good to see that new ideas are still abounding, which #Sketchtember proved as host Ant McEwan’s brainchild offering up a format away from traditional stand up and a friendly platform for sketch, character and improvised comedy.
Demonstrating the flaw in the perceived wisdom of limiting the number of ‘alternative’ acts on a single bill, the variety of tones, attitudes, and humours was delightfully fruitful. Threesome sketch comedy opened proceedings like a sorbet, fresh faced and with an enjoyable surprising bite as they touched on toxic masculinty with a light touch. Karlita from Columbia was working out some ideas, some of which worked well in the room matching her likeable persona. And David McIver’s The Emperor caught us all unawares, with such strength of character knocking socks off every which way, each response to his address tinged with hysteria.
Opening the second section was oddball character Walter Pitt – leftfield and then a bit further still, his intangability provoked some laughs and a bit of confusion too. Then improvisation troupe Broken Guru, bringing us back to clear lineation with light laughs. Closing this section was Julie Jepson as Pearl, gloriously kit out and trying out some new punchlines that landed with the comforting weight of a seasoned writer and performer.
The finale of this fruit trifle of mixed flavours and tasty textures were Jon & Nath – tightly written, suitably anarchic, and compulsive viewing. Two-handed sketches that slipped into character studies too, energising a late night mid week audience admirably, they were a great end to a packed evening of something completely different.

Caroline Of Brunswick, 5 September 2017

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