WitTank

Article by Cara McGuigan | 06 Aug 2011

When the three peachy-skinned young men take to the stage, announce their solidly middle class names and start arsing about with a pineapple, my heart sinks as I predict an hour of public school in-jokes (WitTank. WitTank. Say it a few times). However, they quickly switch to a series of extremely imaginative, energetic and surreal sketches, and I’m soon bellowing with laughter – and almost weeping at the ones involving animals.

They complement each other brilliantly - the furious young Simon Callow does a natty line in shiny capes and bulging blood vessels; Benedict Cumberbatch’s younger sister is an adorable Straight Girl; and the big dopey one does my favourite ever impersonation of a casserole. Right up until the gnome sketch you’d be happy to bring your virgin aunt along. And then you’d find out she’s a dirty bitch.

The delivery's slick and they’re refreshingly childish and uncynical – the kind of people who’d piss about at parties to make you laugh rather than humiliate you for other people’s benefit. The costumes look like they’re nicked from a school play, but with props including red woollen lasers and a kazoo, how could you lose?

Just the Tonic (The Caves), Just the Big Room, daily until 28th August (not 17th), 6:15pm. Tickets from £7.50

http://www.wittank.com