Stranded
Live Review

It isn't easy to make the most of your opportunity at the Edinburgh Fringe when your venue is next to a noisy bar and you're interrupted two-thirds of the way through by a fire alarm. But even allowing for these distractions Kyle Eaton and Craig Gilbert don't hit enough high notes to be regarded as comedy contenders.

Having said that, there are moments when their potential shines through and it's clear they could make an impact if they can put in the necessary work.

The main deficiency is the writing. The duo's performance, once they got into their stride, was pretty relaxed and it was enjoyable to see them wrong-foot each other with bits of improvised dialogue, but too much felt like padding.

The premise is that the two of them spent much of the last year stranded in Chile after a series of mishaps. The show is not only an explanation of everything that happened to them, it's also the vehicle that will provide them with the funds to get back to South America as they've discovered that they were happy there after all. This conceit is pretty good and ingeniously allows the pair to make the traditional Free Fringe request for donations an integral part of the show.

Unfortunately, the description of their Chile adventures fails to engage the audience and the show frequently loses its coherence. Obviously, they weren't helped by the external interruptions but these weren't nearly as much of a problem as the overall weakness of the script. Indeed, the pair handled an awkward situation rather well when the fire alarm went off as they recognised the need to check ‘we aren't all about to burn to death’ and the slightly nervous laughter this generated may have been the loudest of the night.

Eaton and Gilbert need to have a clearer idea of the tone they want. A hard-hitting piece which spoofed charity appeals may have been the best written bit but it felt out of place amid the amiable banter that made up the rest of their fifty minutes.

Similarly, an appearance by Sooty was given a punchline designed to shock but it felt tacky. On the other hand, a brave sequence which saw the two of them exploring the possibility of having a sexual relationship with one another because of their mutual loneliness worked well because it felt true to the premise they had established.

With better preparation these two might be able to put together a decent show as their performances suggest plenty of natural ability. But they must recognise the need for stronger writing.