Writer: Dan Robinson
Director: Lisa Millar
Summer is almost over, and the mundane weekly routine is upon everyone – so what better way to enjoy a weekday evening than with some light, easy comedy delivered by a humorously talented quartet.
Written and produced by Dan Robinson, the sketches in this high-energy hour, are mainly character and observation based, pulling on inspiration from Catherine Tate and Victoria Wood. From competitive stage mums, passive aggressive husbands and heterophobic besties, there’s a real mixed bag of comedy, all of which hits the mark and draws huge laughs from the audience.
The use of props and set dressing is minimal, relying on the actors‘ talents and the well-written script to pull off this assortment of characters and situations. Each sketch is broken up with snippets of current mainstream pop songs, while the cast runs off stage for outfit changes. The music keeps the atmosphere buzzing although sometimes lasts for a few beats too long while the audience waits for the next sketch. All four of the comedians manage to present their talents throughout each scene like their own personal showreel. Whether it’s Mark Dugdale’s fantastic accents, Rebecca McKinnis’ subtle yet brilliant stage presence, Robinson’s flawless timing or Sara Novak’s easy delivery; the audience is entertained from beginning to end.
The lyrically fabulous comedy songs are by far the best parts of the night. While a Zoom call remix of Abba’s Mamma Mia promisingly opens the show, a reworking of Britney Spears’ Oops I Did It Again turns into a relatable yet ridiculous song about WhatsApp and closes the performance with a bang. It would be great to see the Sketch You Up team incorporate a few more comedic musical interludes into the show, as it’s clearly an area they’re very strong in.
Above The Stag Theatre is a ideal venue to host this show and its bright Hollywood-style stage lights and glitter-clad walls fit perfectly with the vibe Sketch You Up presents. An hour almost isn’t long enough for how much this bunch are able to offer, with visible disappointment in the audience when the lights up come up.
Reviewed on 16 September 2021