The Albion Basement - Show 3

OK, I think I've finally worked out the difference between Showcase and Critique: the former is where you put things that are finished for comment, the latter where you put works in progress for suggestions.

Right, fine, that's that out of the way. Well done, me. So, anyway, I shall share some recordings from our 3rd live audio sketch show in the coming weeks, just as I did with the first 2 shows, and feel free to say whatever you like about them, good, bad, or actually about something else entirely (eg barnacles). And don't hold back, I like a good bit of crit.

To be honest, these are "finished" in the sense that they're done, and we can't change the live recordings - they're not "finished" in the sense of perfect, we know our performances are hit and miss, and the recording is generally a bit ropy. Still, you can hear all the words, which is what it's all about, and we like the jokes.

Long preamble, minimal impact. Let's move swiftly on with sketch 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt2qSEgwRiU

Hi Gappy. I won't get to this tonight (I've 50 tabs open trying to publicise my podcast...) but will definitely get to it shortly.

Looking forward to it too.

Actually - I have got to it!

Ace - the timing of the second dice-roll is bang on and it really develops. Really impressive.

Thanks for listening, Flavian.

We tried doing the die SFX live for a while, rolling onto a tea tray and so on, but it just wasn't funny until the sound was exactly the same each time...and really loud

That's nicely done it's a great joke and I love the subplot about the book.

It kind of goes off on a funny tangent and then comes back to it's self.

Not sure if the waiters bit was a little badumtish.

Quote: sootyj @ 23rd September 2015, 10:55 AM BST

Not sure if the waiters bit was a little badumtish.

View original

Couldn't agree more. It's so hard to get an ending to a sketch that is logical but also not forced. This one is a bit clunky, I'll admit, but I always sort of feel that I'd rather have a pat ending than no ending at all, I'm old-fashioned like that.

Thanks for listening, always appreciate your input, Sooty.

There was lots to like with this. It's a lovely idea and well executed for the most part.

I also agree that the ending is the hardest bit to get right. I'm not sure if the ending quite works here but as I said there's plenty to like.

What if he continuously rolled the die to guess the waiters name and the waiter gets angry, beats him up and throws him out on the street. A passing Good Samaritan asks if he can help and the guy rolls the die to see who should be contacted. *rolls die - ring the butchers; * rolls die - ring a crèche. *rolls die - ring an archaeologist etc.

It could end with someone completely inappropriate coming to tend to him.

It would probably drag it on a bit long though.

Anyway great idea and lovely work and with a little tweak to the end this could be fantastic.

How about he falls out of the window whilst bewailing his bad luck, breaking multiple bones. You can hear him croaking "Mate, help me, can you please ring [loads of dice being rolled] 998? Damn!!"

They would possibly stretch things a little too much, we're getting into writing ever shorter sketches at the mo - that will probably change in 6 months, we seem to go in cycles. Thanks for listening

Here's another little thing, see what you thik about this.

https://youtu.be/d4w8Pm9nhSw

Here's a quickie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JzdVIMt5lU

Here's another one. If you don't find it funny, it's noteworthy for one of our number cocking up the last line, and accidentally saying "mirkin" at one point

https://youtu.be/_BoX3anAWFc

Sorry, forgot to post this one the other day. There's a kernel of comedy logic to this sketch, but essentially it's an excuse to shout rude things. We're not ashamed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-9j7T1Qr0c