Harbingers

Directed by Cambridge Footlights' notable Ed Gamble, this revue is an ever so friendly affair that never jokes at the expense of anyone. Here are three affable creatures cocooned in their own fantasy world where friendship is the lowest common denominator of all things, and daily motions are as simple as Snoopy’s.

But when controversies do arise, they pose moral dilemmas heavier and more pugnacious than any we encounter in our day-to-day lives. For example, is it ok to tackle a household infestation of Borrowers with an all out incineration strategy? And what is more important for the cellist aboard the sinking Titanic: to rinse his instrument of its last requiem, or turn it into a souvenir item in consideration of the immense value it will no doubt gain in the future?

Otherwise it is Boosh-like, gently absurd humour where people turn up late to a meeting because they were out rescuing a heron, or a recent graduate gets headhunted as a medieval wizard much to the disbelief and secret jealousy of his friend who is merely becoming a management consultant.

It is a silly, sunny, buddy comedy staged by three middle class lads, probably students, who I can imagine had a great laugh together egging each other on in the writing process, rehearsing the sketches after supper in a messy living room in a shared flat. Tommy Holgate, Winston Smith and Vincent Vivash probably weren’t known as the funniest kids at school, but appreciated nonetheless for their unassuming intelligence and their slightly geeky exuberance.