Superclump – Fringe 2009 - ****4 Stars

For just a fiver I would rank this one of the best comedy shows I have seen this year. It does random so well and authentically, and escapes the common trap of the ‘Goth-effect’ i.e. trying so hard to be different and original and failing. The ideas are inventive and relevant with ‘bantering’ intermittently being a hot-topic

The performers were clearly enjoying themselves and at times were close to corpsing, which I always find contagious. It’s quite endearing in a comedy like this that even after repeated rehearsal they still find each other funny – this can only be a good sign! The styles within the sketches vary from some quite naturalistic scenes, which crescendo towards a punch line, or spiral into the inane. Some are just categorically bizarre, but all have a fantastically well-written script behind them and joyful performances.

As each scene ended I eagerly anticipated the next with my grin from the previous scene still etched on my face, only to be replaced with a bigger one. That’s not to say that all scenes were equally brilliant, there was the odd duffer, but the pace was so fast that they almost went unnoticed, and the rampant zest with which even these scenes were performed was engaging.

Elis James really stood out for me, with such natural comedy at his fingertips and wonderfully diverse characterisation. He has another show of his own ‘Elis James: The Most Cautious Little Boy In Wales’, which I’m sure will be well worth a visit, just as this little gem proved to be.

Reviewed by: Katie Gadsby