Let’s talk about the elephant first, the one fairly fundamental problem with 2 Guys, 3 Drams: the room. Big at theSpaceTriplex feels rather like a gym hall, with its high vaulted roof, glaring light and rows of plastic chairs laid flat across the floor. Sightlines aren’t great and intimacy is in short supply. This is a show crying out for a basement dive, everyone lounging around in near darkness with a glass in hand.
Remarkably, Felipe Schrieberg and Paul Archibald make something very good out of something very bad.
Together they are The Rhythm and Booze Project, Schrieberg on vocals and lap steel guitar and Archibald providing drums and percussion. The musicianship is excellent. Schrieberg’s vocals may not be the strongest element, but blues hardly demands vocal purity. It needs character, grit and rhythm, and there’s plenty of that here.
More surprisingly, this is something of an education. Three whiskies are distributed during the hour and used to explore different approaches to whisky making and tasting, including single malt, rye and blended whisky. I won’t reveal the drams because guessing what is in your glass is part of the fun.
Audience participation is encouraged from the outset, helped enormously by the promise of a taste of the duo’s own rather delicious rum for anyone brave enough to volunteer an opinion. Unsurprisingly, hands begin shooting up. It’s a clever icebreaker and some pretty effective marketing.
Between the drinking comes plenty of blues and blues history. Howlin’ Wolf’s Spoonful makes an appearance, as does Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ I Put a Spell on You, accompanied by the wonderful story of the alcohol-fuelled recording session that produced Hawkins’ extraordinary original performance. John Lee Hooker’s irresistible Boom Boom provides a suitably stomping finale.
The balance is nicely judged. There’s enough information to make you feel you’ve learned something without ever turning the evening into a lecture, while Schrieberg and Archibald know exactly how to keep an audience involved.
Put these two in a dark cellar and I suspect 2 Guys, 3 Drams could be terrific. Even under the unforgiving glare of theSpaceTriplex, however, this remains a hugely enjoyable hour: three unusual whiskies, a little education and some seriously good blues.
What more could you want from an evening at the Fringe?
Playing until August 29th 2026, https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/20262GUYS3D
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 25th August 2026
North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating:
Running time – 1hr
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