We gather on a Thursday evening at 9pm. A fairly sizeable crowd, given the timeslot. We’re here to see the debut solo hour, Frenzy, from reformed raver, Kit Loyd, who has just hit the milestone of eighteen months sober. With the audience as his rave buddies, Loyd peppers his personal story into a one-man-sketch-show, interspersed with incredibly funny impressions.
Does the world need another one-man-sketch-show? From Loyd, it’s an absolute yes. Purveyor of a multitude of funny faces, Loyd brings life and character to any role he takes on. From the iceberg in Titanic, to a painfully accurate impersonation of a hipster barista. Tackling each one with precision, physical-theatre-energy and facial exertion you can’t take your eyes off. It’s also incredibly satisfying to go to a show where the soundtrack is so closely interwoven with the narrative. Each song has meaning, from Every Time we Touch, to Blue (Da Ba Dee). The details of this set are carefully considered, and it shows.
As to the rhythm of the night? Loyd guides the audience from sketch to sketch with an almost impeccable sense of beat. There are no real lulls or moments where things fall flat. At points, it feels like the audience are finding pretty much anything he has to offer funny. Bearing in mind this is a work-in-progress performance, this is particularly impressive, and something which many established sketch comedians fail to accomplish.
Kit’s exploration of rave culture and his withdrawal from it is a big part of what sets this performance apart from your average sketch show. The marketing of Frenzy could capitalise on this a bit better, and the idea could be introduced a little earlier in the show. The inclusion of a song feels a little earnest in comparison with other moments, but with the show still in development, this will no doubt make more sense in the final version, which Loyd is taking to Edinburgh Fringe this August.
This reviewer wasn’t completely clear on what she was going to see when she booked, but she’s ever so glad she went along for the ride/rave.
These are only minor quibbles on a show that somehow manages to be both personal and funny, endearing and delightfully erratic. Kit Loyd will be on your telly in the next five years. Watch this space.
Runs until 9 May 2025 at Presuming Ed’s.
A TV star in the making
