Review by Graeme Connelly

Lizzie Bates is excellent at comically portraying very posh English women. Imagine Penelope Keith after a small line of speed and a hamper full of props.

She taps a clipboard as the audience drift in, hustling strays into their seats in her character of a Blitz bomb shelter warden. Barking orders and organising people into rows, she engages well with the audiences and there is a real sense that something funny could happen.

The characters in Reprobates all get the audience’s collective bum twitching by constantly threatening to drag a volunteer on to the stage. The front row were involved, throughout but shouldn't feel used as Bates is so thoroughly nice about it.

She achieves each of her personas with very simple props, a silly hat or a glass of wine, and launches into them with utter commitment and gusto, assuming her role completely. More than once, however, it feels like a sketch was extended beyond its limit, with not quite enough jokes to make it work. Generally the biggest laughs come from the friends of the people being picked on, rather than great gags.

Instead Bates relies heavily on the wackiness of characters themselves to deliver the laughs. And there isn't much variation from the middle class, middle England and middle-of-the-road.

It is easy to imagine Lizzie's obvious acting skills in a sitcom or comedy theatre, as she's energetic and captivating to watch. Keeping everyone’s attention for a full laugh-filled hour, however, is something she doesn't quite achieve.

Review date: 6 Aug 2014
Reviewed by: Graeme Connelly
Reviewed at: Pleasance Dome