"Just when the stand-up format's getting a tad tired, along comes sketch outfit Angry Puppy to blow it all away.
"'Cause Angry Puppy's a female quartet and they're straight-down-the-line funny, no messin'. They don't waste precious time blowing up ponderous whimsicalities, they kick off with strong gags and then build accordingly - if the idea's broad, they'll play it for minutes; if it's simple gag, they'll leave it as it is.
"The characters are tough: fascist headmistress, uebersensitive hi-fi shop proprietor, lady determined to be a sex symbol even though she's ninety, disturbed and disturbing teen harbouring an Electra complex. More importantly, the performers are tough too: stand-up Susan Calman, the loveable, Stan-Laurel buffoon; Marj Hogarth the control-freak; Leah MacRae the loud-mouthed Gallagheree; Kirsten McLean the (usually) Fonzie straight gal.
"Now I mentioned that this is an all-female set, but thankfully they don't make a point out of it, they're too busy making us laugh. They don't make a point out of anything really, they just play with crazy ideas, oft based on an increasingly crazy member of an increasingly bemused troupe. It's an old technique but an effective one, one which lets each member shine without outshining her colleagues. And it's this sense of harmony which makes them such an enthralling ensemble - even the sole recurring character goes for escalation rather than repetition.
"No wonder this show's backed by the Comedy Unit. And no wonder it's been garnering rave reviews like this 'un."
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