The Specialist

Allnutt and Simpson:Two Wise Men
Live Review

Sketch comedy often treads a well-worn path with familiar scenarios trotted out under various new guises. But this show manages to create new characters in different situations to great effect. The two performers even give their own interpretation to sketches where one third of the act is missing, as in the Three Blind Mice and the Three Wise Men.

Intelligently written, clearly articulated and projected (even over the unnecessary amplification of the act next door) much of the humour is derived from instances when the casual attitude of the characters is at odds with the seriousness of the situation they were re-enacting. The highlight is a sketch showing a laid back, incompetent air traffic controller and a trainee who'd obviously missed part of the training, not unlike Homer Simpson at the nuclear plant. The knife-wielding assassin sketch works well, too, and become a recurring theme.

However many of the sketches, while getting lots of laughts, need much punchier endings. A little more attention to this could make this a great show rather than just a good one.

But for an entertaining hour from two talented performers, this is one to watch. It certainly wouldn't have been out of place in a bigger venue.