One of my favourite cartoons in The Beano was a strip called The Numskulls. They were a team of human-like technicians living in the brain of an unnamed man. This energetic, extremely fun, and diverting show takes that concept and introduces us to a couple of brain cells inside the mind of a man called Gary, who unfortunately is dying, and they have to save him.
Brain cell 64,928,460,784, who is fortunately known simply as Clive (Joe Pike), is the nerdy, strait-laced brain cell while his counterpart, brain cell number 12 (Tom Hazelden), is the more out-going, ebullient, and entertaining one. This is a common comic setup, think the Odd Couple, Peep Show, and many others but the sheer energy of these two performers and their playfulness help to make this situation extremely entertaining.
In recent years at the Edinburgh Fringe, the kings of this kind of narrative comedy were a double act called Max and Ivan. I saw them perform many times and they brilliantly incorporated silly comic ideas and audience interaction while also telling a coherent story. Unfortunately, they announced last year that they had decided to call it a day, as it is too hard to make a living at comedy.
This double act is the closest I have seen to them for some time as they share the vivacity, verve, and sheer capacity to be silly. It was so wonderful to watch two young comedians working in sync, bouncing comic ideas off each other, having so much fun, and enjoying every moment of it.
Underneath the silliness, the show was about identity, friendship, and how to be true to yourself. But you don’t go to a show like this in order to look for profundity, you go to have a laugh and it was very funny.
I felt there was a touch of work-in-progress about the evening, and they revealed at the end that they had tried some new ideas out, as they are taking the show up to Edinburgh. One or two bits did cause the pace to slow, and they did lose momentum, but they soon picked It up again in no time.
Talking of the audience, as is common with Fringe shows, there is a lot of audience interaction which helps to keep it fresh. When one lady told them she, “Had always wanted to punch someone” they were, like the rest of the crowd, clearly taken aback but then they were able to incorporate it into the show.
There was an appealing mix of physical comedy, clever wordplay, and some deliberately bad, groan-worthy jokes. It keeps going at a hundred miles an hour and you can’t help but be impressed by the sheer zip and zing of the whole thing.
The time shoots by very quickly and if you want an hour of boisterous, crazy, comedy then go and see this show.
They will be on at the Edinburgh Festival throughout August – https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/my-last-two-brain-cells
Reviewer: Adam Williams
Reviewed: 25th July 2024
North West End UK Rating: