Rebecca Paul reviews the latest show by the comedic duo.
Over the last few years, comedy duo Sammy J and Randy have made their home at the Fringe. Musings on post-graduate unemployment, social status, cash troubles, daft punnery and a general purposeless existence are expressed through a blend of comedy, song and theatre. And puppetry.
The Inheritance sees felt-faced Randy stumble onto some cash and a haunted house. Meanwhile, a disgruntled Sammy tows behind with some twists of his own in this Disney-esque tale of greed, history, poisonous mushrooms and subwoofers. There are changing sets, plot twists, multiple characters and a relatively meaty script which means a good deal of the irreverent silliness which these guys do so well becomes either lost in the show or obsolete altogether. Sadly, the story is tenuous and can't be saved by the accompanying quirkiness. These guys are at their best stuck in a room together talking about student loans or bitching about each other's bad habits.
There are funny interludes; a song about the interminable lows of filling out a census form amuses but the lyrical prowess we've seen in the past doesn't manage to make its way into every scene of the show. The fourth-wall jokes, a favourite of our performers and in the past very funny also become overused and laboured, causing the narrative to feel a bit clunky.
The Inheritance has funny moments, the tangents of absurdity are well-played but the overall story is weak and there's too much being crowbarred into the show. I think these guys are capable of much funnier.
The Inheritance plays at Underbelly, Bristo Square at 6.05pm until August 27
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