Just The Two of Us! @ Pleasance Courtyard

Double act Soft Play (Maria Telnikoff and Vidya Divakaran) aim 'to play every great duo in history' in this, their debut show. It's a valiant attempt, with a scattergun approach that ranges wildly from Romulus and Remus to Wham!  

High-energy and scrappy, the duo's sketches are thrown out at a rapid rate. Telnikoff and Divakaran lean into their passing resemblance to the leads in Bend It Like Beckham, drawing out the queer subtext and showcasing Telnikoff's mordant Keira Knightley impression. Lennie and George from Of Mice and Men make an appearance. with some quick textual analysis tips for GCSE success (the answer, always, is: 'The American Dream'). Hapless X Factor brothers Ant and Seb are in there too – their hopelessly awkward 2008 performance a meme favourite.

Laurel and Hardy are thrown in deliberately half-heartedly – they're a quintessential duo, no doubt, but in Soft Play's Gen Z landscape they've clearly lost their relevance. Classic Hollywood styling does make an appearance, though, when the pair strip down to Cyd Charisse-style tights and leotards and we're treated to a bit of tap.

The show plays up to Telnikoff's megawatt charisma (something of a young Lucy McCormick, perhaps?) when Divakaran storms off stage, furious at the fact she's getting the bum roles (the chandelier, while Telnikoff hams it up as the Phantom of the Opera; the stone, while Telnikoff gets the juicy role of King Arthur). The rivalrous drama of the double act, like the queer dynamics, is just another ingredient for the pair to play with, and characteristic of their blithe, pick n mix approach.

Fuelled by a great soundtrack, Just The Two of Us! has strong alt cabaret vibes, and is a lot of fun. It's a rare treat seeing a young, female double act having such a ball.

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Just the Two of Us!, Pleasance Courtyard (Cellar), until 24 Aug (not 15-17), 4.15pm, £9-13