Review by Steve Bennett

Toni Ponzi Presents - that awful title leads you to expect some pitiful parade of 'zany' cabaret caricatures. But what you actually get is a very funny play featuring some of the best aspects of Alan Partridge, Fry and Lawrie and Acorn Antiques.

Acting at acting just badly enough to be funny, but not bad enough to be irritating, the cast - which includes James Fox's daughter - breeze through the roller-coaster life of Bristol's top record company executive.

At its best, this fun show contains some delicious overplaying and beautifully-written and knowing lines.

In fact it comes as a bit of a surprise to discover that this team are part of the Cambridge Footlights, the student group responsible for some of the biggest crimes against comedy in recent years. But once you realise the Garth Marenghi spoof, with which this has plenty in common, is also the work of Footlights alumni, then everything slots into place.

There are flaws in the show - sometimes the jokes stop for too long to allow the ludicrously simple plot to advance, and the songs, though enjoyable, mostly seem like an interruption.

But these things never spoil this delightful little discovery.

With a little tightening, this will be fantastic stuff. I, for one, will be eagerly awaiting their next show.

Review date: 1 Jan 2001
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett