The Armstrong and Miller Show

Despite the recent proliferation of TV comedy successes embarking on live tours, there is always a question of how Armstrong and Miller will translate on a stage as big as the Festival Theatre. Their answer is to use everything from audience participation and songs to video and animation, but although this implies variety The Armstrong and Miller Show falls into the trap of repetition on which so many sketch shows rely.

With the bold claim of "if it’s not funny, it’s probably clever", the duo explain the lack of raucous laughter, but on these terms - and if the audience’s unwillingness to participate in a sing-song during the first half is anything to go by - then they appear to be performing to a bunch of reluctant dunces tonight. Not so: rather, the audience appears to be willing the duo to succeed and do respond well to favorites from the TV show, the 'rude-boy' WWII pilots going down well 'fo' sho'.

Nonetheless, one gets the sense that Armstrong and Miller believe that brief moments of genius (and there are some) are enough for a full-length show, padding these with sketches that peter out or resort to cheap laughs, with Women’s Institute types throwing food into the audience and selling sex toys.

Instances of ad-libbing illustrate the duo’s talent and exuberance, and they do manage to warm up the crowd sufficiently to end on a brilliantly performed musical finale. For the most part, however, funny ideas and sketches with potential are simply not well-constructed enough to be rewarded with substantial laughs. While fans of the TV show may not be entirely disappointed, more is expected of a 17-year partnership and a national tour, particularly considering the excellent calibre of fresh and exciting sketch shows at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Wittank, for example, being a third of the price but five times the value.