The sketch trio Rat’s debut, Induction, is set in a featureless antechamber. They’re being interrogated by a disembodied voice, and the questions – about family history, relationship status – prompt a sequence of flashback sketches. There are neat comic ideas here, as Camilla, Dave and Alistair piece together the backstories that led them to this place. But they could use space to breathe. The performances are a bit frenetic, not to mention sealed off behind an old-school fourth wall. And the show’s done and dusted in less than 45 minutes.
The opening scenes depict the trio’s eccentric childhoods: Dave’s dad breaks news of his mother’s death in an unusual way; Camilla’s father and headmaster instil their zero-tolerance approach to Barbie dolls. These are good ideas on paper, and the performances bring them to life in a hammy, comfortably superficial fashion. Sometimes, that’s quite enough: a scene about a ruthlessly honest internet date hits home (although the punchline falls flat).
But often the high concepts, showy writing and madcap performances bulldoze what’s actually funny about a scene. A tattoo parlour skit looks set to be about bad spelling (promising) and ends up being about spunking cocks (less so). A droll joke about the design of the Sphinx should be the focus of its sketch, but is steamrollered by a slapstick beating with an inflatable club. Elsewhere, there are moments – a driver and his hitchhiker realise they’re plotting one another’s murders; a father accuses his 11-year-old of paedophilia – where we want to enjoy the reaction, savour the magnitude of the situation. But the show never opens out like that.
There’s enough here to suggest Rat will go on to better things. They’re capable performers – even if the calibration’s off – and show flashes of idiosyncratic dark humour. But Induction teases rather than satisfies the comic appetite.
• Until 1 February. Tickets and information: Vault festival.
