Comedy review: How Do I Get Up There?

Published on Thursday 14 May 2009 19:09

**** THE STAND, GLASGOW

WHILE recent sketch shows on the telly have been hammered left, right and slap bang in the centre, there appears to be something of a mini-revolution going on with the stage versions in Scotland.

The past couple of years have witnessed the emergence of scary-sounding gangs such as Angry Puppy and Ugly Kid while the Sugaring-Off Cabin has buttered up crowds in the last couple of months.

Now, we have the all-chap trio of How Do I Get Up There? who, if we really must talk about how they look, could best be described respectively as a pre-hedge-haired Russell Brand, a less uncluttered Dylan Moran and a desperately unfit Neil Lennon.

But beneath it all, Chris Forbes, Kevin Mains and James Kirk are all excellent comic actors with sharp eyes for the silly and, when the moment takes them, a deft and subtle approach towards the sinister.

Though the second half of this set relied a little too heavily on the characters who had thrived in Part One, that opening segment included some arresting ideas and pinpoint delivery, each sketch keeping a firm eye on the stopwatch and never coming close to outstaying its welcome.

A vengeful driving instructor; an overly authentic seafaring enthusiast; a torn soul delivering his angst in the third person and the rebranding of Nazi Germany were among the highlights.

And if this year's Fringe has a single sketch more brilliantly frenzied than HDIGUT?'s "man with balloon for a head," those behind it will deserve a prize.