Review by Steve Bennett

This hugely imaginative sketch show is just dripping with innovation, wit and style.

The audacious Hawaiian-shirted trio playfully subvert every convention of the genre, yet never forget to play it for laughs.

From the daring opener - in which the skilled performers act like audience members, their internal monologue encapsulating the real punters' thoughts - to the clever callback finale, this never lets up on the invention.

This is a genuinely original and exciting team - mixing inspired physical comedy with brilliant verbal gymnastics.

And there's a menagerie of deliciously extravagant characters, too, from the dementedly feral Pam Ayres to the pathetic Magic Ian, who breathes fresh life into a comedy stereotype.

This is real high-wire comedy, boldly venturing into new territories with every innovative, genre-skipping skit, yet it remains almost unerringly hilarious, rarely losing its footing - and when it does, it's more of a wobble than a plummet.

There's so much to enjoy here that you'll want to see it again to admire the perfect comedy handiwork that infuses every well-crafted moment.

Laugh-out-loud funny, even to a jaded and depleted audience on the penultimate day of a gruelling festival, The Trap is the apex of comic invention. Make sure you fall into it.

Review date: 1 Jan 2009
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett