When they debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe two years ago, Metroland were a breath of fresh Tyne air, five rascally blokes from the North-East of England, rough diamonds from online comedy who could also write and cut it live. For their misguided follow-up though, they’ve paid lip-service to their screen breakthrough, adapted some of their viral hits but also grown inhibited by striving to impose a television theme on their sketches.
They start promisingly. Wildlife documentary spoofs are ten-a-penny. But their version of a Newcastle United shirt-sporting tourist trying to adapt to the metropolitan dangers of London is witty, immediate and well-observed, with Jack Fairley excelling as a Steve Irwin-type tracking Caden Elliott’s skittish northerner.
There are further chuckles in a drugs aficionado lapsing in and out of reality whilst it’s their specialist subject on Mastermind, making use of John Dole’s terrifying capacity to roll back his eyes, as well as an office confrontation over Marmite’s supposed divisiveness. However, the sitcom framing doesn’t add anything this the latter scenario, even as a joke on its own gratuitousness. Thereafter, it’s pretty much downhill all the way, with vague, flabby conceits about children’s entertainers and inexplicable characters in lieu of properly crafted skits.
Metroland Live: As Seen On TV, Pleasance Dome, until 30 Aug (not 18), 9.40pm