babysittersWhy is it that criminals in a comedy have to be so bumbling? Why, too, that the gangsters within almost always have a humorous trait of humanity amongst their menace? Thrust Stage’s The Babysitters is a decent gory comedy that stews in these truths without ever pushing the subject matter any further than it needs to go.

Opening upon hapless underlings debating the merits of Cluedo in a grotty room, the production starts promisingly. Between Michael Forde’s compulsive liar, Dave, and Lewis Meade’s nervous every-criminal Tommy, a body is tied up in a closed cupboard. Their job then is to babysit this unlucky soul until receiving higher orders, choosing mostly to spend their time debating the ethics of taking the last spring roll. Both Meade and Forde are at their best in these scenes, the two barreling back and forth believably in their utterly insubstantial exchanges. Forde in particular possesses a wild manic energy that is a joy to behold as he digs himself further and further into a mendacious pit.

When a phone call from the bosses informs the two that they have to torture their captive, the comedy picks up a far more potent physical edge that is slightly more indulgent than it is funny. Soon after this the criminal’s homicidal bosses, domestically chained Barry and tea-centric George, enter the fray and a slightly drawn out scene set around the merits of drinking tea stews for a tad too long. Alex Morgan is nonetheless a treat as George, a man capable of elaborating on the merits of cinnamon in one moment whilst threatening to slit your coffee-liking throat in another.

The problems with The Babysitters then come through a disjointed script that feels rudderless at times. With no exterior context of who these men are or what crimes they really engage with, there is a detached quality to the loud manic proceedings that robs it of a more affecting impact.

The Babysitters is at C cubed (Venue 16) until 16 August. For more information and tickets visit the Edinburgh Fringe website.