Review by Steve Bennett

The List Operators clearly have an innate understanding of what kids love – but it would almost be a waste for this gloriously anarchic show to be seen only by children.

Farts, gunk, comedy sound effects and boisterous play fights are par for the course, but including exaggerated ‘yawn offs’ or examples of irritating behaviour shows a deeper understanding of what makes their young charges tick. And mischievous defiance of authority comes top of that list.

The kids love the chance to vocally express their boredom, almost as much as they enjoy seeing one poor dad being good-naturedly humiliated. Richard is the father figure of the duo, keen to educate and ensure the show stays sensible, while Matt is the one the audience can identify with, always wanting to muck about, despite the admonishments of his partner.

This duo produced an entertaining list-based adult show at last year’s festival, but here they largely abandon the premise which gave them their name for less rigid, Knockabout fun.

Even adults will find it impossible to resist their chaotic high-spirits – and there is some genuinely inventive thinking behind much of the set pieces, which frequently contain unexpected twists. They may feel free to indulge their silliness for kids, but that doesn’t mean short-changing them with cheap, messy gimmicks.

Instead they bring to gloriously ribald life such surreal ideas as their take on what grannies are really up to when no one is watching.

Despite being slightly self-conscious about attending such a show with no kids in tow, I laughed more freely in these 50-odd minutes than at any time in the festival so far. Bags more fun than a Wii, for sure.

As a tentful of over-excited children poured excitedly into the City Square, babbling away enthusiastically about the spectacle they had just witnessed, my heart could only go out to the poor parents left to deal with their offspring, energised into hyperactivity by these two lively, likeable and imaginative comics.

Review date: 8 Apr 2010
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett