Review by Steve Bennett

Will (Andrews) and Greg (McHugh) are effortlessly charismatic sketch performers with a sophisticated, inventive approach to their work. In attempting something a little different, they do sometimes fail – especially when it comes to successfully fleshing out their good ideas – but you’re rarely in any doubt that you’re in assured hands.

Most of their humour comes from miscommunication, with awkward exchanges between people not quite on the same wavelength – or just out-and-out contradicting each other, with one stubbornly denying the validity of anything the other says.

They wear their ingenuity on their sleeves, unafraid to be bold. As the audience file in, both are pummelling away at exercise bikes, for no particular reason other than to leave them exhausted. The dialogue for another scene involves only the numbers one to ten, with Will becoming agitated by Greg’s inability to count properly. All the humour is in the intonation, showing their subtlety as actors.

Hit scenes include the disturbing women’s tennis coach who refers to himself entirely in the third person, the Spooky Kid Acting Agency recruiting ugly youngsters, the police interview that takes an unexpected twist, and the thespian masterclass in which a simple pair of spectacles can show every emotion.

Other sketches don’t quite live up to the promise, including a restaurant scene with an procrastinating waiter, and two co-dependent old codgers bickering in a car. These are also among the longer offerings – or at least it seemed that way – more concerned with creating a weird atmosphere than creating strong punchlines.

Will & Greg are already on the cusp of great things, with a Channel 4 show in the pipeline, and with their slick professionalism and outside-the-box thinking, they could do very well indeed.

Reviewed By: Steve Bennett

Review date: 1 Jan 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett