Daphne Do Edinburgh

When they sat down to come up with a great name for their Edinburgh Fringe show, these three guys somehow decided Daphne Do Edinburgh was a winner. While show titles clearly isn’t their strong point, quick-fire sketch comedy definitely is.

A barrage of meticulously sewn-together skits and sketches begins after a very short introduction and doesn’t let up. Clever sequences blend from one into the other with a fluid and controlled style which never stops moving. The trio take turns at assuming characters that range from the perfectly innocent to the disturbed – deeply disturbed. Think League of Gentleman meets Nightmare on Elm Street. A good portion of the show could have been written on acid and definitely shouldn’t be witnessed on it. Indeed, a thankfully short section on Postman Pat could induce flashbacks for audience members the next time they hear the theme tune.

It isn’t all darkness, however. Some delightful and clever songs are peppered throughout for light relief and a surreal sing-along at the end is almost moving. Yes, these guys can actually sing – and act. This isn’t a few comedians doing prewritten material and just memorising their scripts. They are real performers who inject a lot of life into what they are doing. A slapstick-heavy sketch, which would have the health and safety officer nibbling her fingernails, demands a huge round of applause and shows genuine clowning talent. Daphne Do Edinburgh aren’t just clowning around though. Watch this space.