Holly Williams reviews the all-female sketch troupe's new show.
This female six-piece sketch troupe keep things bright and beautiful in their comedy garden – their skits are fresh, funny and performed with an infectious enthusiasm. They've got a nice line in taking middle-class politeness, fakery and rivalry to its ridiculous extremes: a gaggle of overly generous surgeons let a patient cop it rather than be seen to be too thrusting in making the first incision; a ferocious battle takes place over who will be Mary in an am-dram nativity play; an awkward choir practice is ruined by a scientifically minded singer who will keep concluding that 'all thing bright and beautiful' evolved over millions of years.
There are plenty of neat ideas which they play with, extend or turn on their head; the corned beef hangover scene, for example, is simple but effectively realised – somehow just replacing alcohol with beef in a traditional morning-after debrief is very funny. And they have a few completely off-beat but rather brilliant scenes – my favourite of the whole show was the Russian Doll sketch, entirely prop and voice driven, and a nice contrast to the sometimes assaulting character work. Their introduction, featuring a sextet of Lady Garden mini-me children in floral outfits that matched the group's own, was another strange scene which somehow worked. Lady Garden certainly aren't lacking in ideas or imagination.
However, the writing and delivery isn't always as tight as it could be. In several sketches the punchlines can practically be seen sauntering on stage several minutes before they're due, and they're rarely confounded or subverted. Or sketches lack a big finish – sometimes the journey is great but the finale fizzles. They could do with physically ending their sketches more snappily, too, getting off the stage or hitting the light. Tighter conclusions – both in the content and the performance – would see this talented bunch really blooming.
Lady Garden's Top Secret Gig will be at the Pleasance Courtyard at 6:20pm until August 30th.
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