Liam and Noel are not the only siblings dusting off the past in Edinburgh this month. While there's plenty of cutting edge topical comedy at the Fringe this year Australia's Burton Brothers have headed in the other direction, setting their sketch show in 1925. Of course, one of the easiest gags in a fun-packed hour is the idea that good times are just around the corner. Sounds familiar?....

 

But there's lots more going on here too. Their big idol is Australian clown Frank Woodley, who won the Perrier Award here in 1994 as half of Lano and Woodley (was it really 31 years ago? I was on the judging panel that year, the stories I could tell...). This twosome has a similar knockabout vigour. Tom and Josh are real-life siblings which might go some of the way to explaining their perfect chemistry, whether trading lines or indulging in physical slapstick. Funny bones might be genetic but there is talent too. They might be sending up Hollywood movies – in one sketch Frankenstein and Dracula have a comedic scare-off – but you can also see them appearing in Hollywood movies.

 

The two smartly attired siblings rattle through their sketches with barely a pause for breath. Highlights include a satirical singalong military sketch, a skit where they look into mirrors and see freakish versions of themselves and, maybe best of all, a skewering of celebrity where one of the brothers suddenly find himself shooting to stardom with a song that makes absolutely no sense at all. 

 

It is all delivered with so much brio, conviction and energy (as well as vaudevillian silliness) that despite the oddness of the concept you are immediately swept along and buy into it. Just because it is shamelessly retro it certainly doesn't mean that it is old hat. Just roll with it.