Camden Fringe 2008

Professional Help, a sketch comedy quartet presented their new show Boredom at the Camden Fringe. Boredom is set in a brothel although this is not immediately obvious. The characters include Veronica Drake (Collette Winter), the new receptionist with a penchant for something bigger (ie the Office Manager role), Angela Forbes (Naomi Cooper-Davis) the resident bitch, though with good reason, Lucy Logan (Deborah Wastell) peaceful earth mother who thinks she might actually be pregnant, but only because the stones told her so, and last but certainly not least dizzy and loveable Lady P (Rebecca Windsor), who has an obsession with nuns that she sometimes takes that little bit too far.

A colleague has been shot so they are all holed up in the tea room waiting to be given the ok to carry on working. Their decided lack of concern for the colleague is hilarious. Veronica newly promoted office manager is meant to be in charge, but because she gets offended easily is finding it hard to maintain control over the often headstrong, head in the clouds or constantly disappearing charges.

Windsor is captivating as the posh and exquisitely ditsy, loveable Lady P, who takes pleasure in keeping nuns captive in the brothel basement. Strangely she glitters with innocence, despite her incredible sins. Cooper Davis takes bitchy to the extreme, whilst managing to ensure the audience is sympathetic to her character’s plight as the only ‘working’ girl in the brothel. Winter truly embodies the uptight Veronica and comes into her own when talking to god with her own theme song, Madonna’s Holiday. Wastell as Lucy is laid back, has some great lines and doesn’t rely too much on the hippy, star trek obsessed stereotype, preventing her character from becoming two dimensional.  

Professional Help presents Boredom is a well put together comedy sketch show. The set is colourful and the props used to their best advantage.  The cast are clearly comfortable working together, but unfortunately the fluffing of lines and distinct coming out of character moments took away a little from what is an excellent script. However this should not deter an audience from seeing this four strong comic ensemble. Winter, Cooper-Davis, Wastell and Windsor have clearly developed characters, all of whom are engaging and entertaining. The rough edges are charming to an extent, and with a little more rehearsal this talented group of comic women could create a powerhouse show. Their sharp witty lines and the ability to think on their feet provide the audience with an engaging hour of comedy despite a few hiccups along the way. A laugh a minute and well worth seeing.