Monday, August 17, 2009

Review: Paul Merton's Impro Chums ***

Paul Merton's Impro Chums is one of those shows that does exactly what it says on the tin. Merton, together with a troupe of comedy friends (including US comedian Mike McShane), spend an hour riffing off audience suggestions for props, locations, occupations etc, creating some very funny and clever off-the-cuff sketches as a result.

Playing to a packed house at the Pleasance, Merton and crew entertain throughout, with some genuinely funny moments of ad-libbing and corpsing caused by ever-more bizarre suggestions from the crowd ("be the man who puts wooden pips in raspberry jam using a bicycle"...?!).

It's obvious - and forgivable - that some of the longer routines are pre-scripted and rehearsed, with some of the suggestions slotted in to intentionally left blank points in the routine, but ultimately this is an hour of good - and mostly clean - fun.

Paul Merton's Impro Chums runs at The Pleasance until 29th August (not 18th). Many shows sold out. Various from £11.50

1 comment:

  1. This has always been a good show - glad it didn't disappoint.

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