Absurd humour

Wickedly twisted comedy meets deliciously vivid imagination in this excellent fringe production from theatre company 1927.

The cabaret-style show hinges on a large, flickering screen on to which the rich animations of company founder Paul Barritt are screened. Scratchy pencil drawings morph into stylised, vintage film, while skits involving a raging red devil are brought to life crudely with puppets made from paper fasteners.

Performers Esme Appleton and Suzanne Andrade then use the rolling films as a set, steering the audience through a series of warped stories that involve Choo Choo the cat dying nine deaths and the sinister sisters who make their grandma disappear. The animation and film, perfectly fused with the duo's eccentric sketches, create a weird and gripping patchwork of genres.

Add to this Lillian Henley on live piano, beautiful vintage costume and a knack for Victorian RP accents, and the show is a winning, and witty, homage to silent film, mime and music hall. What stops this production from falling into pastiche, however, is the use of more modern references (such as Tony Hart) coupled with absurd humour delivered in a quaint, cute style --think The League Of Gentlemen meets Amélie. And, if that disturbing combination is to your taste, this will blow you away.

Until Nov 3, BAC, Lavender Hill SW11, Mon to Sat 8.30pm, £10, £6 concs (Tue pay what you can). Tel: 020 7223 2223. www.bac.org Rail: Clapham Junction.

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
Battersea Arts Centre
Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN