The Aspidistras

It’s really difficult to pinpoint what it is about The Aspidistras that makes you grieve for the comedy gold that has somehow got lost along the way. Let’s look at the facts. Gerardine Coyne and Maria Hodson are clearly the greatest of pals with a contagious chemistry. Individually, they each display a talented knack for comic acting - in particular, Hodson is superb. Their ideas sound like things that should be funny – the mix of the surreal and celebrity satire contain flashes of brilliance.

Most of the sketches are performed solo, with the duo coming together on the more musical numbers. Hodson’s ‘impressions’, to use the term loosely, are fantastic parodies of Tim Burton and Dan Brown – unusual choices, perhaps, but surprisingly enjoyable to see mocked. ‘Attention Song’ pulls apart the Lily Allens and Pixie Geldofs of this world in a well penned ironic tune which, like it or not, does stick in the mind, and the personification of ‘Ivy’ (“You’re so clingy”) and ‘Holly’ (“Don’t be so prickly”), two plants arguing intently, uses some great wordplay.

So what’s this reviewer’s beef? It seems to lurk somewhere deep in the writing. It’s not that what the characters say doesn’t amuse – the audience smirks and occasionally titters away quite satisfactorily. But there's a distinct lack of punchlines, the effect being that there’s simply not a great deal to laugh at. Though we’re amused, the audience is far from being in fits. That said, there's certainly potential for this seed to grow.