Writer: Steve Furst
An angry geography teacher with a passion for punishment, a Cockney style icon and a Northern Soul enthusiast. No, it’s not the beginning of a bad ‘walk into a bar’ joke – it’s a selection of new characters, performed by Steve Furst during his latest comedy sketch show.
Steve Furst is clearly a very skilled actor, with a repertoire of personalities ready to be released into the comedy circuit. Rather than wheeling out the same stereotypical figures that you see frequently at various comedy shows, Furst brings something unique to the stage instead. While a troubleshooting druid or a mischievous royal butler aren’t necessarily people an audience may relate to, they’re definitely ones they’ve never seen explored in a performance before. Each persona is completely different to each other, with accents and mannerisms perfected to a tee, to completely bring them to life.
The time between sketches, while Furst is busy transforming himself into the next bizarre role, is quite lengthy, with original elevator style music curated by Furst being played in the background. Having these transition periods shorter would really help the show flow better and keep the energy high, however Furst never leaves the stage, which is another element of originality that makes the show a little bit different. Watching him slowly morph into the next individual, with a new wig or costume change, is endearingly charming, and an often-unseen insight into the ‘backstage’ of a performance.
Another way Furst excels is his crowd interaction. While brief, and often improvised due to a phone not being switched off or an audience member tittering during an unfortunate moment in the sketch, it’s fantastic. It’s these moments where his quick-wit and easy confidence is really highlighted, giving a glimpse of the comedian behind the character-driven monologues that make up the entirety of the show.
This original collection of character monologues and sketches is intriguing and impressive. While none of them is side-splittingly hilarious, they’re all so unusual and well-rehearsed that it’s hard not to be hooked during this hour-long performance.
Runs until 30 March 2022
The Reviews Hub Score
Skilled Performer
