Theatre: Beard II
The sequel to last year’s hit sketch show doesn’t disappoint
Matilda Wnek and Rosa Robson’s sequel to their 2012 sketch show, Beard, is as refreshingly different and subversive from the rest of the Cambridge comedy scene as possible, whilst still staying hilarious. The set of surreal, irreverent comedy involves such scenarios as forced chocolate mousse eating, offers of questionable "official merchandise" in exchange for beans, and a parched woman in a desert.
This style of comedy is by no means everyone’s cup of tea but in what is perhaps the show’s greatest achievement, throughout the entire hour long set, not a single sketch bombed or even remotely fell flat. All too often and completely understandably, comedy sets will be hit-and-miss but Beard II bucks this trend by delivering hit after hit with next to no dips in quality.
Whilst the success of this is partly due to the excellent (if completely mad) concepts, what really carries the show, preventing a mood of alienation in the face of such weird material – instead propelling the audience into a state of uncontrollable fits of giggles, is the quality and perseverance of the two female stars. Wnek and Robson prove in Beard II that they are two hilarious comedians who can make an audience positively piss themselves at anything they do without conforming to the unfortunate stereotype nowadays of female comedians talking about vaginas and periods. It takes a special talent to make an audience full of tired, sceptical people – most of whom are already weary of a fair amount of substandard Fringe comedy laugh hysterically with only two bedsheets without saying a word: without a doubt, Matilda and Rosa possess this extraordinary talent.
On the back of the success of the original show in 2012, Wnek and Robson avoided the temptation to come back to the Fringe this year with a much larger show, instead opting to test out new material in an intimate and relaxed free Fringe venue. This means there is really no excuse to not experience this entirely fresh, different and absolutely hilarious comedy sketch show; which, to put it simply, is as good as it gets.
13th-18th & 20th-23rd August, 7.30pm, Venue 227
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