Brighton Fringe review by Steve Bennett

When it comes to sketch comedy, Amy Spinks and Kate Novak are almost as traditional as they come.

They are so middle-class they can do a parody of The White Company, while their topics are almost a checklist of the mainstream, such  as  a wedding speech that gets tied up in knots around gender terminology, a politically correct James Bond casting, or sarcastic swipes at the expense of  vegans, the gluten intolerant, and a smug jet-setter who thinks carbon offsetting solves it all. You may be able to detect a slight touch of the reactionary as they mock all that’s new(ish) in the zeitgeist.

While the subjects are on the safe side, Birds more than redeem themselves with robust writing that show’s a rare devotion to proper punchlines, and engaging performances that are exaggerated, but still on the edge if credible.

The pair showcase a wide range of archetypes – and accents. One sketch is a bit Alan Bennetty, the next they are Cockney geezers, then City wideboys in a scene that demonstrates the pared-down efficiency of their writing at its best.

The downside of  their consummate professionalism is that we don’t get to see much of the real them, either directly or indirectly – save for the one time Novak gets the giggles. They seem to be enjoying themselves and their chemistry is implied, but made more explicit would endear them even more and give the hour as a whole more of a distinctive personality, which is ultimately what divides any sketch group or comedian from the pack. As it is, these scenes could probably be transplanted into countless other shows.

Nevertheless, there are some very good ones here. The Veganuary skit indulges in some enjoyably tortured wordplay, the sweetie-pie girls going to noo-noo land are utterly charming, and they dare to tackle the rigmarole of ordering in an Indian restaurant –  and make an excellent job – of it even if Rowan Atkinson will did the definitive version of this scenario decades ago.

One of their strongest scenes, though, is a very old idea: bleeping out song lyrics to make them far dirtier than the original has long been a round on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, as well as the Unnecessary Censorship strand on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

But that’s not much of a black mark against an hour of effective, fun performances and efficient, gag-driven writing that keeps the laugh rate up.

Review date: 31 May 2019
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Brighton Brighthelm Church & Community Centre