one4review | On 18, Aug 2024

It’s always a pleasure to discover comedy which genuinely feels new and unique. And Grubby Little Mitts, an Award-winning sketch duo composing of Rosie Nicholls and Sullivan Brown, is certainly that.

The sketches range from standard silly – a bird expert giving a talk on invisible owls – to the high-brow – a prolonged sketch about Big Brother’s Big Mother which I’d assume around 80% of the audience (myself included) didn’t really get. Nicholls and Brown don’t transform into overly caricatured guises for their various roles, mostly seeming to be the same people in slightly different costumes and – somewhat confusingly –all their characters are called “Rosie” and “Sullivan” regardless of the sketch they are in. However, I didn’t mind this as the jokes are far more about the situations they find themselves in than silly character voices or costumes. Jokes are supported by a good use of minimal props, sound effects, music and the odd cup of water thrown in by the audience.

Probably the most unique thing about Grubby Little Mitts is the tone of the sketches. There’s an underlying feeling of paranoia and neurotic energy in the performances that never quite pushes the too far into dark comedy, but does give every sketch a slight uneasiness. It’s clear that the pair have a little more in the acting chops department than the standard sketch comedians and both Nicholls and Brown bring a seriousness an emotional range to even their silliest performances with real moments of pathos.

It’s a bit of an acquired taste for comedy, and certainly not going to be for everyone, but overall I found it just the right kind of strange and silly to keep me chuckling all the way through.

****
Reviewed by Tom
Assembly George Square Studio 5
16.35 (1hr)
Until 26th August