'The Reel to Real' review: Skilled duo make audience part of interactive show

MOST stand-up comedians start off their set by interacting with the audience for a relatively brief period, before commencing on their preprepared set. Some have turned that interaction into a full show, with mixed results.

Indian act Abhishek and Nirmal have injected a high dose of energy, originality, and fun into that audience interaction concept in a unique way.

The result is a laughter filled show, where anything can happen.

The dynamic duo followed up a run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe with performances at the Soho Theatre in central London recently and delivered a unique comedy experience for all those attending.

Instead of just asking those present a question and following it up with a witty remark like other comics, they made audience members a part of the show.

This included a brilliant blind date on stage, getting audience members to ask one another questions and some good old fashioned matchmaking.

The duo reacted to whatever was happening on stage to come up with spirited humour in lightening quick time. They bounced off each other and audience members to find hilarity, including being repeatedly apologetic to an older audience member.

There were a few moments when the jokes weren’t there, but both quickly moved on and kept the energy level going.

What added to the charm was the likeability of a duo, who clearly loved entertaining those present.

Unlike most stand-up comedy shows, they will likely have no two that are the same, which means you can watch them without encountering the same jokes. That made this another win for a progressive venue in Soho Theatre, which has had a remarkable year in terms of showcasing the most unique Indian comedy talent on a UK platform. Abishek and Nirmal certainly fall into that category.