Review: Date Night
Picture: Taylor Edwards and Chris Martin ‘cracking the crab’ (credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Chris Martin and Taylor Edwards are a double act in both senses of the phrase: a couple, and a great comedy partnership. So its not surprising that a ‘silly sketch show’ by these two talented comedy writers and improv comedy performers is entertaining, revealing and (it has to be said) slightly wacky.
The great thing about the sketch show format is that if one of the 15 ‘chapters’ doesn’t quite work for you, then you know another one will be along soon. Not every sketch hit the mark for me (the perfume adverts for example), and some didn’t quite seem to fit with the ‘date night’ theme (the ‘resolutions app’?).
But most of the sketches hit the spot. My favourite pieces were based on their personal stories, or when taking a rather quirky lens to look at the world or reinterpret stereotypes or phrases. So yes, loved the impressions that included the sloths and ‘that’ clay scene from the Ghost film (on this occasion performed by two swimmers), the ‘magic’ and mentalist act (loved the ‘no’ and yes’!), the rather quirky crab cracking, and the takeoff of the TV show. And the story time segments about the birthday gift and the cost saving American ‘sexy trip’ tour were tragicomic and just fun.
Picture: The sloths! (Credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Picture: Advertising (credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Picture: Hype at the ‘British Museum’ (credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Date Night is a good value show, that would be an interesting first date (lots to talk about over a drink afterwards), the start of an evening with friends, or a great post-work show for singles. Mind you, if you admit to being a couple you may get Maltesers, whereas singles only merited Le Snax’s.
I have a feeling that Martin and Edwards may just decide to split this piece into two, slightly-shorter, shows—perhaps one focused on dating and the other on technology/apps. I’d certainly be queuing up for the 40-minute date show. And if you wanted to get a flavour of their work, I hear that Edwards and Martin’s Date Night is also a popular podcast.
Verdict: ‘Did what it said on the can’: a fun, and occasionally wacky, one-hour sketch show.
Picture: Single Snak (credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Audience tip: Date Night (Brisbane) (2023 Anywhere Festival: 4, 7 & 12 May [Brisbane], 28 May & 2 June [Moreton Bay]). 60 minutes (no interval). Sexual references, simulated comedy deaths, and use of guns (I suggest 15+). Tickets $25. Brisbane performances at Fringe Brisbane Offices, Old Stefan’s Salon, South Brisbane.
The reviewer attended the 7 May 2023 performance (7:30pm)