No need to dial 999; why not try two incompetent perverts instead? Rupert Uzzell finds plenty to enjoy in the Podcast duo's new sketch show.
Peacock and Gamble are in many ways an old-school double act. Right from the off, Ed Gamble assumes the 'straighter' role, playing the more sensible and level-headed counterpart to Ray Peacocks bizarre, larger-than-life comic persona. Most specifically, they remind me of Lee and Herring, only with less impressive A-levels. This is because both duos function on the same dynamic: reason juxtaposed with mania.
The concept of this show is that Peacock and Gamble are trying to convince us that they will be able to replace any cancelled Fringe performances with their own 'Emergency Broadcast." This proves to be an effective premise that allows them to divide the show into a number of different sections demonstrating their various talents.
As is typical of the sort of routines you would expect from a double act like this, Gamble attempts to just successfully get on with the show, whereas Peacock is constantly causing problems and making mistakes. It’s fairly simple, but often very funny stuff. Particularly enjoyable is Peacock’s rendition of a song about the ugly duckling that proves too emotional for him, and his unveiling of an appalling set of ideas for Dragon’s Den. Also very effective is a sketch where they cleverly turn things on their head and exploit Gamble’s overly professional and serious character for comic effect, as he gives his terrible 'Round the World in Eight Minutes' presentation. Things then continue to go badly for the incompetent twosome throughout the show, right up to the disastrous but very funny ‘Batman’ finale.
Aside from containing such funny ideas, both performers are hugely entertaining and capable in their assigned roles. Peacock inevitably steals the thunder slightly with his highly charged, lunatic performance, although Gamble still holds his ground with an equally important and very impressive performance as ‘the sensible one.’
My only real problem with the show is that sometimes it’s just a bit too simple. There’s some lazy toilet humour they could have done without and bigger laughs could have been produced with more inventive, less formulaic routines like ‘Round the World in Eight Minutes’.
Nevertheless, it’s a very entertaining and solid hour of sketches from the podcast stalwarts, and I hope to see more from them in a similar vein in future.
Peacock and Gamble Emergency Broadcast is at the Pleasance Dome until the 28th August.
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