Sketch Crunch

C Soco

Typically, sketch comedy is a hasty business.  That’s its appeal, of course.  If one particular sketch disappoints, there’s always the possibility that the next one will be funnier.  And so it is with Marigold’s Sketch Crunch, which has a frenetic, rapid-fire quality that compensates for its weaker moments.  It doesn’t break any new ground, but the sheer vitality of the performers – Huw Beynon, Simon Brant and Richard Hanrahan – makes for a good hour’s entertainment.

The opening sketch sees Hanrahan bewailing his excess weight to a barely sympathetic Beynon.  In their embarrassingly poor series for the BBC, Horne and Corden successfully proved that obesity in itself does not provoke laughter, except perhaps amongst infants and imbeciles.  For a moment, I was concerned that Sketch Crunch was going to follow a similar track.  Thankfully, the sketch does not outstay its welcome, and by the end of the show it is clear that Marigold have a decent range of comic ideas, and the versatility to pull them off.

The show is something of a mixed bag.  A few scenes are genuinely laugh-out-loud funny.  There is a terrific sketch in which a man proposes to a duck, and the three public school boys attempting to feign the stereotypical language of the council estate is effective, if not especially original.  The sketches that fall flat – such as the terse, stentorian headmaster, or the father who imagines that his son has an imaginary friend – feel somewhat half-baked, and cry out for further development.

It’s nothing you haven’t seen before, but there are enough laughs here to make it a worthwhile way to spend an hour.

***

I liked the words terse and stentorian. Plus we got the same rating as Russel Kane  - Russel Kane! Thank you again for coming to see us – do come back again!

During the Edinburgh Festival, the desire for fetid pig meat that grips most drunkards at midnight changes into a compelling urge to find a comedy act in the arse end of the C venues to laugh at. You could probably do worse than ‘Sketch Crunch’ – this comedy trio have plenty of energy and a couple of good gags – but you could certainly do much better. Most of the sketches are weakly written, fizzling out with poor punchlines, and there are few genuine big laughs to be had. Much like a greasy kebab or an intimate experience with an ugly stranger, mediocre sketch shows like this one are best enjoyed whilst heavily under the influence. Do not attend sober. C soco, 5 – 31 Aug, 11.55pm, prices vary, fpp 99 tw rating: 2/5 published: Aug-2009

I don’t know about you but I quite like a greasy kebab, almost as much as I like intimate experiences, even if the stranger is ugly.

Thanks for coming though!

“Four quirky young chaps from Leeds, suited in matching grey apparel and booted in blindingly white shoes, present an assorted mix of sketches that vary from covering a tense Strip Snap World Championship to instructions on how to use feminine products.

The Zoo Southside provides an intimate venue for a big act and the energetic four-piece don’t hold back. They make the most of the space they have and dance like there’s no tomorrow, without inhibition. They sync their moves beautifully, but occasional unpolished instances and awkward silences add extra quirk and charm to this act. Whilst they leave you gasping for breath between laughter, a sudden ‘Did he really just say that…?’ apprehension sometimes creeps in and makes you wonder whether it’s kosher to be laughing at all…
A must-see, mid-afternoon ensemble of British black comedy providing shits and giggles, leaving you with high expectations of what the rest of the young talent of the Edinburgh Festival have to offer.
These boys have bags of potential and there is no doubt they’ll be back year after year with crude, slapstick sketches and crass language that will keep you gagging for more. Until then, good morrow!”

EdFringe.TV Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by Nina Goldberger

Thanks again for that! This review can be found here

Review – Eleanor Scotchbrook

THREE old school friends from Bishop’s Stortford are tickling the funny bones with a successful sketch show.

Huw Beynon, 19, Simon Brant and Richard Hanrahan, both 20 – who perform under the stage name Marigold – took their character sketch show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last summer and recently performed it again to a home audience when they returned to their alma mater, Bishop’s Stortford College.

The comedy trio got a great reception from friends and family on April 18 and are now looking to take ‘Bit Sketchy’ on tour next year.

The boys, who are all now at university, have known each other since childhood and performed in school plays before turning to comedy writing.

When apart, Huw and Richard are regulars on the stand-up circuit while Simon harbours dreams of being an actor.

Huw, who organises stand-up nights in Leeds, where he is studying, said that making their debut at Edinburgh was both nerve-wracking and thrilling and that Marigold hope to return to the festival in 2009.

“It was great performing our own material and we even got a four-star review,” he said.

“We were more nervous coming back to the college though as we knew everyone in the audience and didn’t want to let them down.

“We made them laugh though and had great fun doing it, so I think it was a real success.”
For now the trio are developing new material and are looking forward to a funny future together.

“We’d like to keep performing together and see where it takes us,” Huw added.

“We’ve been really pleased with the response so far and as long as we keep having fun with it there’s no reason to stop now.”

Many Thanks to Herts and Essex Observer – it can all be found here!

“”Bit Sketchy
Marigold ****
I suppose if I had to liken these three cheeky chaps to anyone, it would have to be those icons of comedy themselves, the mighty ‘Monty Python’.With a tendency to break out into song, Marigold throw you into the dark depths of surrealism with a slick sketch show full of original, intelligent humour. I’m truly relieved to see some well crafted sketches at a time when I feel sketch writing has become predictable, ordinary and just unfunny. Although I was disappointed to see no impersonations, as billed in the programme, I enjoyed every minute nonetheless. So pay them a visit, I implore you.” [SC]

Many Thanks For That!