Witty and charming Eyes Up Here catapulted the spirit of American sketch comedy onto the London stage - over 20 sketches in 45 minutes. Lydia Parker and Maureen Oakeley wrote and performed, joined by Dan Carter Hope on guitar and as a guest star. The stage was simple, with black drops lining three sides, creating an intimate performance space. Gordon Clarke's technical direction was acceptable, in that it neither added nor detracted from the sketches - with one exception. In one scene, green lighting was used, apparently to highlight jealousy - but with the sketches lasting only two minutes, this subtlety was unnecessary and sorely stood out from the rest of the show.

Both long-time American expatriates in London, Lydia Parker and Maureen Oakeley dished up clever observational comedy which bridged the transatlantic divide. They introduced themselves through a song entitled Why Do The English Hate Us, which cited perfect teeth, Botox and a cuter leader as a few of the many reasons. Performing and providing background melodies in many sketches, Dan Carter Hope proved his musical chops with some impressive blues-guitar solos in White Collar Blues - a song lamenting playing solitaire on iMacs. The writers were strongest when satirising current social and political attitudes. The Slow Food movement fell victim to a sketch in which a restaurant revealed not only the source of the meat on offer, but also the animals' hopes and dreams before meeting untimely and delicious deaths. Modern dating and business merged when a head-hunter was called into a relationship, due to 'restructuring'. Catholic confession received a revamp when, instead of confessing to a live priest, the sinner was confronted with a 'nun practitioner', who attempted to compile a complete record of sin using a laptop (particularly pertinent to anyone who has recently visited the NHS).

Not all sketches were successful. The one recurring sketch about tennis, sex and cannibalism felt like an inside joke which should have stayed in the drunken pub night from which it came. But the majority were amusing, and a few moments were pure genius. The best of the lot was book addicts finding their fix at Borders, caving-in to the desire to leap onto the 3-for-2 tables and make 'book angels'. Most of all the genuine enthusiasm and intelligence of this show made it well worth an evening out.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Maureen Oakeley – Performer. Lydia Parker - Performer. Dan Carter Hope – Performer / Musician.

Company Credits: Writers – Maureen Oakeley & Lydia Parker. Director - uncredited. Musician – Dan Carter Hope. Technical Director – Gordon Clarke. Producer - uncredited. Company - uncredited.

END

(c) Molly Doyle 2009

reviewed Tuesday, 21 July 2009 / The Wheatsheaf, London UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com