Theatre

Fly Me to Baboon

Alan Hindle | Wednesday 17 August, 2011 10:25

Almost traditional sketch comedy, but whereas most troupes do it set-up… punchline, Fly Me to Baboon prefer it as punchline, punchline, set-u… Nah, another punchline. Jokes fly like hair from mangy dogs on rollercoasters, and most of them work. When they don’t, they tank so badly the performers look embarrassed to be up on stage, but these are mercifully few. Also mercifully few are recurring characters. The ‘Lobster-In-A-Box Guys’ return several times with drastically reducing returns, and I can only presume they keep it up because the lobster is sleeping with them both. FMTB pick easy targets and indulge casual taboos but their oddball take and full throttle delivery are excellent. And wow, does Rosalind Blessed ever have a powerful voice. And a face like a Cheshire Cat at a canary convention. She bellows, grins, her eyes pop and I have no doubt she could’ve taken everybody in the room. Blessed, Paul Handley and Duncan Wilkins are old hands at sketch comedy and their confidence is absolute. Loud, funny, and overly generous to lobsters. A fine combination.

Camden Fringe Festival page

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