Although Jake Spence and Charlie James Robb, who collectively make up the comedy duo of the Foxymorons are far from moronic, Up The Auntie is a frustrating example of good ideas being spoiled in the process of performance. It’s not that the two Cambridge comedians are bad performers, quite the contrary: they leap around the stage with fantastic sweaty energy (admirable given the lukewarm responses from the audience) and try their hand at numerous characters; some good, some not so good. Jake Spence in particular commands the stage. His voice is malleable, and he manages to pull off a number of different accents in a particularly inventive sketch set in a shoe shine parlour. The less said about his Scottish accent, however, the better. The format is definitely at its strongest when the two of them are on stage together, although at time the chemistry seems forced. 

The real problem lies in the sketches themselves. There are funny moments - a ten second sketch involving the sharpening of what appears to be a giant spear is inspired - but these are few and far between. Robb and Spence create potentially amusing situations but never really follow through with any kind of punchline. Sketches either end quite suddenly or are compromised somewhat by dropped lines and breaks in character, which are then disguised as opportunities to exhibit some more ‘chemistry’ – in essence, laddish “banter”. The concepts are creative, but the fast and furious sketches oscillate between fresh ideas, and ones you will have seen before. 

In the world of live comedy, some jokes are guaranteed to fall flat, or only yield a few nervous giggles: in Up The Auntie, some of the material just isn’t funny. One Snack More’ made my toes curl with embarrassment, but was saved with a brilliant Scooby Doo impersonation, and a pirate themed party set up created some funny asides but that was it. Robb could be to blame for some of the lead balloons: surely it should be funny when someone shouts "HEROIN BABIES" into your face (and I mean literally in my face) but it really wasn’t. However his commitment to audience participation is commendable, even if at times the audience members upstaged the comedians with their witty remarks. 

I didn’t laugh out loud at once, but that doesn’t mean the show is bad: it isn’t, but neither is it good. I could only describe it as slightly amusing, with moments bordering on being funny. Despite a great soundtrack and energetic performers, Up The Auntie just doesn’t deliver. Put it this way: I was a little sad when Boogie Wonderland stopped playing and the lights came up for yet another wasted comedic opportunity.