Comedy Bitch

‘Comedy Bitch’ is something of a peculiar name for this six piece sketch troupe. Consisting of three men and three women, all with a background in theatre, the group’s name seems redundant, or possibly a joke. There is a certain disharmony between the plosive, throwaway title and pop graphics on the posters, and the measured, even refined content of the actual show. For within, it is the twin virtues of subtlety and invention which define this interesting sketch act.

The show opens with a vignette about an American couple lost in Yorkshire, and makes use of some effective off-stage sound devices. There is a strong focus on narrative in the comedy, and often the gag is the end result of a long build-up. Music is used throughout, often with the effect of altering the mood in preparation for the coming change of character.

The women make the grandest impression in the show. There is a sketch where a girl sits on a bench in a train station, her thoughts narrated from back stage. Playing upon traditional gender expectations and the female in English literature, the players defy expectations in ways that, generally, are very funny indeed. That is not to say that there are not weaknesses in the sketches. This is Comedy Bitch’s first year at the Fringe, and some of the material - such as a sequence set in a mime class - seems slapdash. For the most part, however, this work stands out as that of an exciting sketch ensemble.