The Jonny and Joe Show

To describe this show as free-form comedy would suggest it has at least some kind of form. It doesn’t. Not that that’s a bad thing -  it’s just very confusing.

From the slightly disturbing intro music consisting of the two actors' names sung out over a variety of musical styles, it is easy to tell that Jonny and Joe are aiming to be a little different. They do at least succeed at this, producing an insane sketch show that keeps the audience completely unsure as to whether the two young comics are beautifully practised or completely unprepared – which doesn’t matter much as the results are funny, if a little unsettling.

Props lie scattered around the stage as the two launch themselves into each sketch with a lack of respect for any kind of structure or good manners, playing out conversational and slapstick scenarios, which owe a great deal to Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Jonny even looks a fair bit like Michael Palin and both are leading members of the Cambridge Footlights, which gave John Cleese and Graham Chapman such a good start. One lesson they have learned well from their forebears is that two men slapping each other is often hilarious.

The only downside to this mayhem is that you get the impression they really aren’t that concerned about putting on a polished performance. The continuing rough and ready nature of the show occasionally overshadows moments of absolute genius and the blackouts between sketches are a debacle.

Thankfully, none of the roughness prevents this wonderfully deserving madness getting raucous laughs from everyone.