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Camden Fringe 2008

Becky and Naomi Brainwashed

Demeter's Men

Venue: Etcetera Theatre, Camden

Festival:


Low Down

Becky & Naomi Brainwashed is a sketch show for anyone who has been even a tiny bit annoyed by that tragic advert on TV which is doomed to fail but somehow sticks in your head forever making it strangely, but unsatisfactorily successful.

Review

Becky & Naomi Brainwashed is a sketch show for anyone who has been even a tiny bit annoyed by that tragic advert on TV which is doomed to fail but somehow sticks in your head forever making it strangely, but unsatisfactorily successful. Becky & Naomi reel off numerous inventive ads over the sound system at the start of the show, some of which unusually have stuck to the point where when the real ad plays on the TV, the brain is reminded of Becky & Naomi’s show. Becky & Naomi have put together a cacophony of sketches that over an hour explore advertising and its brainwashing tendencies. From the unforgettable plea to help provide a much needed Poodle For Every Family in Africa Foundation, to the promotion of orgasmic chocolate and a brilliant sketch about Petit Filou these girls are original and memorable. They act out the hilarious finale of The Worlds Got Talent where Naomi plays every single contestant and Becky the annoying yet strangely charismatic host. This show is of course complete with ad breaks. Becky and Naomi work together in harmony as a duo and are not afraid to get covered in muck or make a fool out of themselves. A stand out ad involves an old couple Poppy (Naomi) and Albert (Becky).

Albert wishing to profess his true love for Poppy buys her the ultimate in accessories, a Dukes Cheese Ring which they both proceed to gorge on once she admires it on her finger. Eating a whole ring of mozzarella is no mean feat! Although a brilliant sketch, Becky’s character Albert had a touch of Lady P about him, one of her other characters from a previous show, nothing a little refining won’t fix. Becky & Naomi are very funny and kept the audience in stitches the majority of the time. However in saying this, the show does feel slightly underdone. A bit more cooking and this duo would dish up a near perfect show, crisp and tasty on the outside and just pink enough in the middle.

Brainwashed felt a little too raw at times with Naomi often forgetting lines and dropping from character, which is funny and charming once or twice but the third or fourth times it just becomes a little under rehearsed. It has to be said however both comics cleverly cover their mistakes with brilliant snatches of off the cuff humour. A few more weeks in the rehearsal room and this well put together innovative sketch comedy would be sharper, cleaner and more hilarious.

Published

Show Website

http://www.camdenfringe.org