Given the success of its former members, it would be so easy for the current Footlights to simply trade on their name. Fortunately they haven’t taken the easy way out this and instead have come up with a show that, while not hilarious, is certainly good for a giggle.
Unlike a lot of this year’s sketch shows, Beyond A Joke has a linking theme, however vague, and this manages to bring a sense of purpose to the whole proceedings. This has the effect of making the show more compelling, as each vignette feels like it is going somewhere rather than have been slung in for a cheap laugh.
Sadly, the Cambridge Footlights are far from original this year and there is nothing about Beyond A Joke that makes it compulsive viewing. The troupe are competent and manage to deliver their skits with the minimal of mugging but there is little to just that any of them will go on to the fame and fortune attained by some of their predecessors.
On the whole Beyond A Joke is worthy of your money, just don’t expected to be challenged, shocked or surprised.
3/5
Richard Biggs
