Review: Smoker

Wednesday 21st April, 11.00 at the ADC Theatre. 

The Footlights are back – not even Iceland can stop them – and it seems that the break has done the Club a world of good. This was one of the best Smokers I’ve seen since I become accustomed to the ‘brand humour’ usually offered at the ADC. Lots of new faces were in evidence, and with them, a breath of fresh air blew through the old hands, ruffling previously unexploited comedy feathers.

A great opener set up an explosion of volcano-related hilarity. Characters were appropriately allocated, according to each of the performers’ strengths. This entrance began a set that was – for once – well-paced, with not too much of any one comedian or type of humour, and only, say, three of four of the signature Footlights entreaties for applause. The ones that run something like: ‘step forward, raise hands, smile/nod/wink at the audience.’

There was a real, genuine situation comedy sketch. It had characterization, a bit of back history, and other stuff that makes things that aren’t a series of one-liners funny. Eve Hedderwick Turner and Nick Ricketts provided a witty response to couples arguing while disparaging the French (always good fun). Jacob Shephard’s stand-up was a highlight, keeping you interested beyond a couple of minutes, something some of the longer skits failed to do.

A pitifully self-deprecating stand-up voiced every Cambridge student’s fears, while another seemed to be tackling his own on stage too much to properly deliver what was arguably funny stuff. And then there was Katy Bulmer.

Katy, Katy, Katy. Your Complete Works of Shakespeare poem needs to be published, along with the rest of your work. It was nice to hear your not quite so shouty for once, too.

James Moran and Lucien Young smashed everything PC with squirm-in-your-seat guilty pleasure comedy that wasn’t pulled off quite so well in a ghost-writing parody. Abi Tedder proved she can be funny just by standing there, but especially when drenched in water. Phil Wang’s TV appeals, though a good idea, dragged on, and the iPad sketch, amusing in parts, could have been cut down. (The device is, after all, enough of a joke in its own right.) The missing national census report was hilarious.

Last night hailed a new age for Smokers. They have more, better-rehearsed sketches and a wider variety of humour and performers. This year’s tour is going to be oh so good!