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Show: Goodbear
Society: Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Venue: Bedlam Theatre
Credits: DugOut Theatre
Type: Sardines
Author: Chris Abbott
Performance Date: 22/08/2016
Goodbear
Chris Abbott | 23 Aug 2016 10:44am
In a Fringe dominated by comedy in the form of stand-up, it was great to spend an hour in the company of two talented performers presenting a tightly scripted and pacy hour of sketch comedy.
Goodbear are Joe Barnes and Henry Perryment, a duo in the honourable line of such acts, seemingly able to read each other’s minds and presenting a series of sometimes recurring characters over the course of a single day.
Dugout Theatre director George Chilcott has ensured that these skilled performers are shown at their best, and this is an excellent example of how much a show benefits from having a director – other comedy acts please note.
The music from Max Perryment also plays a vital role as does the crisp and apt lighting and sound; technically, the show is absolutely at the top of its game.
At the centre of it all, of course, are the two performers, whether as Swedish cyclists, office workers or just friends interacting. Their voice work is superb, no accent seeming to be beyond their reach, and there is some impressive physicality to the show, which uses only two stools and no props or costume changes. They can play either gender or neither, know when to finish a set-up without labouring it, and like all the best double acts, there is no straight man; both these young men are very funny.
They will go far; catch them while they are still playing the small venues and you can see them up close…
- : admin
- : 22/08/2016