While exhibiting great energy and pace, H-BAM: Stop Fist Fighting You’re Pregnant falls short of making people laugh consistently. By nature sketch shows are hit and miss, and any punter that is used to them is used to that, but riding a wave of rave reviews both this and last, H-BAM should have upped the stakes. However what greeted my eyes was a disappointing show.
There were wonderful conceits, which were subsequently ditched in order to force a laugh, and at times they unfortunately over compensate with strained energy levels and voices. With such a large group to cherry pick from it seems ironic that they ran out of options.
Wandering over well-trodden ground like a blissfully unaware rambler about to step on a landmine. The highlight sketches were a Victorian rogue named “Saucy Jack” who explained his seduction of a young wench, and the Pirate Sketches, but even these seemed to be thrown away when this youthful group lost mental steam.
Hopefully the next offering will be more accomplished, but until that time, there is more quality on the fringe for you to choose from.
2/5
Alex Millar
