Lady Garden: Top Secret Gig

Sketch comedy is a notoriously tricky business, but the six members of Lady Garden appear to have it nailed.

With a wonderfully conceived introduction, the six members take to the stage in matching outfits before embarking on a show which crackles with energy and ideas. Their strike rate is impressively high in a medium known for often being a hit-and-miss affair. At their best they are reminiscent of French and Saunders at the height of their powers (perhaps unsurprisingly since Lady Garden member Beattie Edmondson is Jennifer Saunders' daughter).

Returning characters and sketches maintain the flow and shape of the performance, with overlying plot arcs introduced to maintain interest. It's impeccably structured stuff which never feels forced or contrived, and no segment ever outstays its welcome. The fact that they are all immediately likable is certainly a boost and each member of the comedy troupe is given her own chance to shine, with no noticeable weak links and polished individual performances galore.

Everybody will have their favourite sketches according to personal tastes, but highlights include an Asda trainee, a Russian doll puppet show, a secular version of All Things Bright and Beautiful and some particularly shoddy burlesque. The sheer quality and variety of skits raises the whole show well above many of the more mundane sketch offerings which infest Edinburgh at Fringe time.

An all-singing, all-dancing finale brings the curtain down on what is a tremendously satisfying hour of comedy.