2010 Edinburgh Fringe
The Three Englishmen review
Don't be fooled by the name - there's four of them, and they explain in song why this is the case. But having four young chaps instead of three to entertain proves an even better recipe for a mix of sketches guaranteed to make you grin.
This year's festival has offered little in the way of new sketch comedy, so these guys are a breath of fresh air, and while they may not tackle anything ground-breaking or innovative, they are funny, and that is all we ask.
They start the show (or should that be kick off?) with a skit about football, which reminded me of The League of Gentlemen in their formative days at the Fringe.
They deftly move on from scene to scene, interspersing them with songs. One of my favourites was the ridiculously young boy taking his French oral examination, which ended on a surprisingly touching note. And I was delighted by a sketch where a meek Tim Burton and an overbearing Helena Bonham Carter tell Johnny Depp - complete with hands made out of clacking kitchen instruments - he is no longer needed for Tim's next film. The characterisation and wit was evident here in bounds.
The bad news is exactly what I referred to earlier on - they did nothing which particularly stood out. Having seen a lot of 'samey' sketch comedy at this year's festival, they could have had a chance to shine and make an impression. The good news is they've got charisma, wit and talent - and this should take them far.