REVIEW: The Great British Comedy Revue - at the Swan Theatre, Worcester.

SMUT by the bucketful, lavatory gags… but above all the ability to laugh at ourselves.

Oh yes, the state of our great national asset is certainly in rude health. And if you don’t believe me missus, Worcester Repertory Company will soon persuade you otherwise.

This affectionate homage to our indigenous humour hits the funny bone time and again, thanks to four very talented performers and the ever-tight direction of Chris Jaeger.

Of course, being in possession of a language as complex as English means that deliciously verbal outrages such as Rob Leetham’s anagrams sketch provide us with a little light relief from a programme otherwise heavily weighted in favour of body parts and functions.

Indeed, not to be outdone – or maybe this should be undone - Rob soon gets over his attack of gibberish to deliver a hysterical narrative about a wife-swapping party.

Ben Humphrey is on his usual top form, especially when paired with Liz Grand during various pieces indulging in the Rep’s now favourite pastime of extracting the proverbial out of the Shakespeare snobs club.

Meanwhile, that other vital ingredient in the rib-tickling department – gallows humour – is well represented by the story of the schoolboy who appears to have been caned to death by his headmaster.

Elsewhere, the theatre of the absurd finds its voice with a Mastermind sequence that also provides a showcase for rising talent Gemma Martyn Smith, who also brings a fine voice and a growing stage presence to the proceedings. And throughout, John Brierley’s fine keyboard work helps to keep the chuckle juices flowing.

The Rep has certainly turned out a first-class piece of work. And it would be good to see them keep it in the repertoire and perhaps one day find a larger setting than the Vesta Tilley studio where a larger audience could give the show the acclaim it so richly deserves.

***The Great British Comedy Revue runs until Saturday (September 26) and next week from Wednesday to Saturday (September 30 – October 3).

John Phillpott