It's Nice We Could Do This
PBH’s Free Fringe offers a plethora of shows for Festival goers to peruse at their cash-strapped pleasure. Varying degrees of hit and miss are to be expected but, with some digging, there are plenty of gems to uncover that raise the bar for their peers. Local sketch group ‘It’s Nice We Could This’ are a bright example of writing consistency and comedic timing that genuinely challenge their ticketed counterparts.
The surreal sketches are penned by Ben Verth who stars alongside Mike Walsh, Caroline Robertson and Adam Mitchell. Together they form a polished ensemble that clearly know and love their material. And what’s not to love? ‘It’s Nice We Could Do This’ boasts an eclectic mix of sketches featuring false wizards, miniscule sex offenders, and a Merchant of Venice-like dispute between a farmer and his cow.
Verth’s sketch writing exhausts a penchant for misdirection and punch-lines that effectively deliver a payoff for the few sketches that threaten to over stay their welcome. Consequently, the pace of the show seamlessly interchanges between the protracted and shorter sketches; giving you just enough time to catch your breath for the next laugh.
The epic finale features star performer Mike Walsh breaking the fourth wall by recounting the series of events that lead him to become a comedic straight man before his spiralling into a madness induced by jealousy and betrayal. Prior to that is a scene that plays out a Father’s attempt to rationalise horrifying events to his son in order to soften the blow of his own bad news. That sketch alone is absolutely worthy of a generous donation to the post-show bucket.
Bearing in mind all the shows at the Fringe with wacky and meaningless names, ‘It’s Nice We Could Do This’ is a title that genuinely delivers on all fronts. It’s a free show featuring a talented quartet of comics supplying a constant stream of laughs. Need I say more??
Reviewed by Christian Illingworth 18/08/2010
It’s Nice We Could Do This
The Canons’ Gait
13:15 August 7th-29th (Excluding Thursdays)
