The Most Important Show of the Day

• Rebecca Ross
• 10 August 2009

This article is from 2009.

An interactive wake-up call

Riding the waves of recently popularised characters such as Brüno and Borat, Richard Simms is a pint-sized fitness fanatic in an 80s-inspired get-up of fluorescent shorts and leg-warmers. ‘Are you getting enough SECS (Spoken Encouragement Compliments and Support)?’ begins Simms, setting the tone for the silly antics and stream of innuendoes which ensue.

A two-course breakfast is served at intervals, setting the atmosphere somewhere between that of a PE lesson and a cruise ship. The show relies upon audience participation in a series of cringeworthy exercises, from making an invisible smoothie to playing with Simms’ oversized balls (see what I mean?). Simms is a cheery, likeable character, whose inane gags neither offend nor stimulate. That said, if you don’t want to be roped into onstage sphincter clenches it is certainly not advisable to sit at the front. A show that will divide those happy to jig along, and those who would rather tell Simms to jog on.

B’est Restaurant, 556 4448, until 31 Aug (not 15, 22, 29), 10.30am, £20.