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New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
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A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
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Kitchen W8
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London,
Bruce Dessau's rating
Reader rating
Description: The Gavin And Stacey duo perform in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Trains: Tube: High Street Kensington 
, Tube / Bus: 9, 10, 52, 360 
Phone: 0207589 8212
Website: www.royalalberthall.com
Extra info: Food, Pub
Unruffled: Mathew Horden, left, and James Corden have had poor reviews for their film and TV series, but their energetic Albert Hall stage sketches were more successful
Their bubble might not be bursting but it certainly has a few leaks at the moment. Mathew Horne and James Corden have already had savage reviews for their television sketch show and mixed notices for their film Lesbian Vampire Killers.
Now it was the turn for them to deliver onstage. The final night of this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust week found them saving face by trading heavily on high energy rather than high quality.
As hosts of the evening, the stars of hit sitcom Gavin & Stacey came on between each guest to rapturous applause and whizzed through variations of skits and set-ups already seen on the BBC3 vehicle.
Gallery: More pictures from the event
James Corden bounced around like a tubby Tigger, Mathew Horne mainly played the straight man, Ernie to Corden’s Eric. They both kept their clothes on, in contrast to their TV show’s opening episode.
At their best they raised the roof. Corden’s rapidfire rapping (“I’ve always had time for my rhyme”) showed he can rattle off neat lines at will when he has them. His public school oaf Xander also slipped down well as he clambered through the audience.
Horne’s camp reporter Tim Goodall, however, was little more than a chance to mock the dress sense of two audience members and allow fashionista Gok Wan to chip in with a self-satirising cameo.
Too often the enthusiastic performances were compensating for a lack of originality or serviceable script.
Their happy clappy Christians innocently singing innuendo-laden lyrics was a well-worn idea, while their West Country magicians Jonny and Lee Miller did little more than prance and roll around the floor to a remix of Enya’s Orinoco Flow. Previous Teenage Cancer Trust comedy nights have featured Little Britain, Russell Brand and Ricky Gervais. By contrast this year’s line-up felt low-key.
Character comedian Nick Mohammed made little impact, Sean Lock cannily described recycling jars as “like turning up at an earthquake with a dustpan and brush”. Rising star Jack Whitehall fared well with punchy gags about the election of America’s “first quite black President”. Finally Noel Fielding from The Mighty Boosh appeared with a waffling set that fell awkwardly between work-in-progress and tired old routines. Fielding looked a little wobbly in his high-heeled gold boots, but not as wobbly as Horne and Corden will look if they do not come up with some content to justify their pop star confidence.
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I watched 3 episodes back to back last night for the first time and laughed out loud, thought every sketch was well done and original. Im not easily entertained but I thoroughly enjoyed watching these two and think their acting and song/dance routines were really clever, really different to the usual little britain repetitiveness. Maybe its just my humour as Ive read reviewers saying they need to grow up etc. but I say please dont and keep up the good work guys!
- Luisa, Sussex, Worthing
Horne and Corden went down a storm with the crowd, and the sketches were very well adapted to the stage.
Of course Noel Fielding delivered a "waffling set"- that's his style. And it's very, very funny. Oh and FYI - his boots are silver, not gold 
- Emma, UK
They are just not funny - end of story<BR>
- Nicola Mulcahey, Staines
Just be thankful they didn't perform any extracts from Lesbian Vampire Killers!
- Paul Wiffen, London, England
Bruce, your review of these two is utter nonsense. Comparing last night's performance unfavourably to their (admittedly variable at best) TV show is totally pointless - the fact was that their entire act went down amazingly, the crowd loved it.
You managed to barely touch on the performances by all the other stars, who took far more stage time than H&C. Sean Lock and Jack Whitehall both gave top performances, and Noel Fielding gave a relaxed final performance to the night. The only real weak link was Nick Mohammed..
- Anthony, Harpenden, UK
