Toronto Fringe Review: Do You Think You're Better Than Me?

Do You Think You’re Better Than Me? is sketch comedy done with intelligence, wit and a clear, urgent POV. Shows like this are why I love the Fringe. 

The hour-long revue is created by the company “Small Friend Tall Friend,” who consist of writer/performer/directors Becky Ablack (who’s tall) and Zoe Marin (who’s shorter). They open the show with a direct-address sketch that immediately sets out one of their goals: to point out the underlying sexism and racism in comedy – and life.

And they do just that, critiquing things like “chuckle fuckers,” why women put up with toxic behaviour from men and the easy steps a straight, white male celebrity can take to redeem himself after being cancelled. 

For the most part, they expertly blend pop culture references with their Gen Z concerns. One of their sharpest sketches involves a woman (Ablack) discovering that her friend (Marin) is keeping her ex-boyfriend (Stephanie Perri) chained up, even though he’s turned into a zombie. Another features a woman (Ablack) accepting an Oscar only to be “played off” by the orchestra whenever she discusses serious issues. 

Some scene transitions need tweaking, and the show could use tighter direction. What’s exciting is that even the sketches that don’t completely work – like a riff on 23AndMe.com, or a look at using science fiction as an allegory – attempt to do something fresh, smart and funny. 

And while Ablack and Marin have a real chemistry together, the five-person ensemble works well together, with each actor (the other two members are David Civcic and Rayhan Jabbar) getting a chance to show off their unique performing style.

I can’t wait to see where this sketch troupe goes. 

Do You Think You're Better Than Me? is on now until July 16 as part of the Toronto Fringe. Tickets and show times here.