Adam McKenzie and Tegan Higginbotham adhere to one of the oldest rules for comedy duos: one crazy, one straight. When their powers combine, they form “Watson”: a loud, sweaty and hilarious comedy team. In a non-stop frenzy of slapstick, wit and hitting each-other with branches, Higginbotham and McKenzie explain that they are on the run from the Australian Government and have uncovered a terrible secret, a secret that will change everything. Along the way they fill us in on conspiracy theories, the best way to avoid getting sniped and Narnia’s extradition laws. Oh, and one of the best Yoda impersonations this critic has ever seen.

But it’s the chemistry between McKenzie and Higginbotham that really sells the show. McKenzie is a moustached maniac with great comic timing. His brain will often move faster than his mouth, causing him to fluff a line, but it doesn’t matter because his improv skills are flawless. It’s his job to act-out and get the big laughs. Higginbotham has the slightly harder assignment of being the Straight One. Always a tough gig. But her wit and delivery make it funny. It’s her job to handle McKenzie’s antics and move the show along at a cracking pace.

It’s not surprising that the two bounce off each other so well. They worked together in the 2008 Festival show Every Film Ever Made, and then came back again in 2009 with Last Bucket of Water, also featuring Robby Lloyd.

The Super Secret Awesome Show is still rough around the edges: the stage setup meant the audience up the back couldn’t see the TV screen, and the opening Mission Impossible soundtrack was played at eardrum-melting volume. But these were minor kinks that will be ironed out over the Festival. And while it did take ten minutes for the pair to warm up and get comfortable, with some laughs came confidence and with confidence came a better performance (which led to more laughs). It was a vicious comedy cycle.

Watson are at their best when they deviate from the script and take risks. It’s fast, frenetic slapstick and with a very original and surprising ending. What’s the secret? I could tell you, but then Watson would have to kill you.