RadioNewt.org
August 2004

Just when you thought The Fast Show had killed off the sketch by tiresomely repeating catchphrases and hideous over acting, five genuinely entertaining comedians come along to refresh your faith in comic mankind. The Dutch Elm Conservatoire are that rarest of things, a good sketch show. Their secret lies in not trying to create cliché characters and put them in situations, but to create bizarre situations and populate them with truly odd inhabitants. At no point did any of the characters feel derivative or stereotypical. It's just plain good.

Like any show with multiple writers there are highs and lows, but I'm happy to report that the former outnumber the latter. Occasionally good writing is let down by over acting or just plain lack of talent, that is not the case here. I would hazzard a guess that each sketch has been re-written and rehearsed several times to achieve this strong, professional and above all funny show.

Student revue companies could do themselves a favour to study this show, it would teach them a great deal about performance and timing. Go see the Cambridge Footlights dire offering and then see this. The difference is, this is a show written and performed by people who have a passion and love of comedy, wheras the Footlights show is performed by people who have realised that being an academic or lawyer does not sound that thrilling and showbiz sounds a lot more attractive.

© radionewt.org