Sketch comedy is a funny beast, as troupes can easily swing from ecstasy to agony, or vice versa, between festivals. More often than not they slip from greatness and it is clear that the Durham Review have suffered this decline.
It’s not that they aren’t funny anymore, as the young crowd are continually baying for more, it’s just that they’ve lost their vim. Last year’s Chipmonk was packed with short, punchy sketches, whereas Mourning! is made up of lengthier, less impressive skits. This could be down to the obvious absence of some key cast members, with the remaining writer given more free rein, or it could simply be that they are taking a new direction and still trying to find their feet. Whatever the reason the plain fact is that Mourning! just isn’t as entertaining as the group’s previous outings. Obviously everybody doesn’t share this opinion but that is the nature of student sketch shows.
Having said that the cast does perform brilliantly and it is impossible to fault them on their delivery. The Durham Revue has entertained so many people over the last few years and it is clear that they are gong to carry on doing so.
3/5
Richard Biggs
