Revan and Fennell have been friends since studying at East 15 Acting School. You almost don’t need their marketing to tell you this – their onstage camaraderie is more than evident and, at this stage in their careers, they are clearly having a lot of fun. Their show at the Leicester Square Lounge on the 23rd February wasn’t short on audience laughs, but was also a real showcase of how friendship and a rapport with the person you’re sharing a stage with can make all the difference to the quality of your work. Two heads, as I’m With Stupid proved, are definitely better than one.
Mixing live sketches with pre-filmed ones, and flitting between a host of different characters as well as their own onstage personas, the duo had plenty to fit in during their one-hour set. Sketch comedy can sometimes run the risk of being too stiffly scripted, satirical to the point of spite or feel like you need a PhD to understand the point of it – Revan and Fennell’s show successfully avoided any of these pitfalls with a brand of humour that was cheeky, fun and accessible. The strapline on their marketing – ‘championing unintelligent comedy since 2010’ – was perhaps incorrect because these sketches didn’t lack intelligence, but rather nailed an inclusivity and warmth which made the performance a joy to watch throughout.
There were, however, a couple of moments of slight predictability; a sketch which featured an over-the-top dance in a nightclub was indeed funny, but it’s a scenario that’s been seen before on the sketch circuit, and really needed more of a twist to set it apart. Some sketches got the audience laughing, but failed to peak as much as I’d have liked them to, and whilst they worked, you had the feeling that there was more untapped potential there. The duo’s real talent is identifying a beautifully funny scenario, and developing well-rounded and believable characters – a gift that a lot of sketch comedians try and fail to develop over much longer careers. Whilst I loved the show, I felt that they can justify taking sketches to even greater heights of incredulity and an audience will still warm to them.
Some nerves also looked evident at points, with slightly slipped lines or pauses. The energy was perfectly paced throughout however, and given that this was only I’m With Stupid’s third outing, it’s an impressive showcase of real talent and potential that can only get better as the duo gain confidence – and bigger audiences.
The use of multi-media was a particularly nice addition to the show, with small filmed sketches breaking up the live action. They were certainly no less funny than the live ones, and using many of them as an opportunity to highlight the “creative process” – with Revan and Fennell playing themselves as they started to put the show together – was an inspired idea. This creative choice also allowed sketches to start swiftly despite changes in props and costume – avoiding a trap that can often slow down the pace of live sketch shows, or look clunky and unprofessional.
My absolute highlight had to be the closing number. Featuring sparkles, choreography from A Chorus Line and a competitive rivalry, it managed to round up the show by showcasing the girls’ comic abilities and the friendship and chemistry present within the duo. Revan and Fennell work so well together, and it’s this relationship that transforms their talent and potential into a show that’s a pleasure to witness.
Isabel Dixon
You can catch Revan and Fennell again at the Canal Cafe Theatre on the 23rd of March at 7pm. For more info and to book tickets, click HERE.
You can also visit their website HERE, and follow them on Twitter @revanandfennell.
